Vladimir Putin clung onto chair ‘like an anchor’ to make sure he wasn’t pulled over by Donald Trump’s ‘clasp and yank’ handshake, body language expert reveals
VLADIMIR Putin made sure he didn't lose his grip when he met up with Donald Trump for their first official summit earlier today.
The US President said he hoped for an "extraordinary relationship" as the two world leaders went head-to-head in Helsinki, Finland.
However, one body language expert said the Russian's grumpy face and "anchor like" grip on his chair proved he didn't really want to be there or be pulled over by one of Trump's over-the-top handshakes.
US-Russia relations have been strained by Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and by claims that the Kremlin helped Mr Trump win the 2016 election.
Tensions also are high as a result of ongoing accusations of Russian interference in the close-run 2016 US Presidential election.
Here body language analyst Judi James breaks down her opinion of the power pair's hidden thoughts and feelings...
Getting a grip
"Trump's fingertip tapping suggested irritation or impatience while Putin's trait of wrapping one hand around the arm of his chair looked suspiciously like a desire to leave.
"His grip could have been a self-comfort or suppression trait when someone gets bored or impatient and uses a displacement gesture to hide their feelings.
"However Putin is a great strategist and I believe the true and rather practical purpose came during the handshake.
"Trump is famous for his 'shake and yank' handshake technique where he nearly pulls people over. Putin might have watched this and decided to use his free hand as an anchor, just in case."
Incredible sulks
"The pair looked about as likely to form an agreement as a pre-divorce couple at a last-ditch counselling session.
"Trump and Putin wore glum, unsmiling facial expressions for this summit meet-up and overall their body language made them look angry and reluctant to bond in any way.
"Both men looked like two sulky alphas with Trump sporting a mouth clamp and scowl for some of the meeting while Putin sat with a poker face.
"Their eye contact was minimal and cursory and when Trump did throw out a very small olive twig of flattery about the World Cup, Putin listened impassively to the translated message.
No big shakes
"Trump likes to evaluate based on the attribution effect of three-second impact to see if he likes someone and in this case he might have quit and thrown in the towel early.
"He did stick out a hand to shake at the end of their conversation to camera but it was a long arm stretch for both men and the shake was totally lacking in any of the usual add-ons that Trump likes to use to bond or wrestle with other world leaders.
"Sitting apart both men adopted an alpha pose, with Trump in signature leg-splay slump mode,with his hands in the downward steeple gesture that signals 'resting Silverback'.
Winky stuff
"That Trump wink was a tie-sign that went unanswered like a little mating call from Dr Alex on Love Island!
"After Trump and Putin's last meeting the pair both moved closer and chatted animatedly after the cameras had been switched off but today it was noticeable that after the lights went out the two leaders sat glumly and totally without any form of communication or desire for one.
"Trump may have a performance tucked in his back pocket and be aiming to emerge from the meeting hailing Putin as his new friend but there looks to be several layers of frost to work through to get to that point."