"Diplomatic gestures by Putin lean towards being unpredictable and often involve flattery"
In December 2022, Saint Petersburg played host to the annual meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). During this event, gold rings engraved with the CIS symbol and the word "Russia" were distributed among the member countries' leaders. This gesture, reminiscent of unpredictable and flattering diplomacy by Vladimir Putin, drew comparisons with the ring from J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy, "The Lord of the Rings."
Gold rings, often symbols of unity, authority, and commitment, were presented to CIS leaders, signifying legitimacy and alliance among member states or leaders within a political or organizational framework. In contrast, the rings in Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" carry very specific fictional symbolic meanings. The One Ring, for instance, symbolizes absolute power, corruption, and domination, representing the will of the dark lord Sauron to control Middle-earth through its influence. The other rings symbolize various forms of power and burden, with deep mythical and narrative significance.
Belarusian Alexander Lukashenko is the only one who will wear the precious ring in public. However, this gold ring distribution is considered a rare blunder in Vladimir Putin's diplomacy of gift-giving, sparking comparisons with the ring from Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." Some have even gone as far as to compare Putin to the character Sauron, ruling over his allies, while Ukrainians were compared to the fighters of Good in the epic tale.
It is essential to clarify that this comparison remains a reasoned one rather than a documented analysis, as specific details on the CIS rings’ design or official statements on their symbolism are not readily available. For precise information, one would need to consult official CIS announcements from December 2022 or authoritative commentary on that event.
In a separate incident, in March 2022, Vladimir Putin presented a painting to the American president. The presentation was reminiscent of unpredictable and flattering diplomacy by Putin, as the painting featured a slimmed-down and rejuvenated Donald Trump in a virile stance. This event also drew comparisons with the ring from Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," although the specific symbolism remains unclear.
In conclusion, while the gold rings distributed among CIS leaders and the rings from Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" share some symbolic similarities, they are fundamentally different in context, purpose, and material form. The former serves as a token of leadership and solidarity, while the latter is a central plot device reflecting the struggle between good and evil in a fictional world.
The gold rings distributed among CIS leaders, symbols of unity and alliance, are contrasted with the rings in Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," which carry significant fictional symbolism, representing absolute power, corruption, and domination.
The comparison of Putin to Sauron and Ukrainians to the fighters of good in the epic tale, sparked by the gold ring distribution, is a reasoned one but not based on specific details or official statements about the rings' design or symbolism.
