Lavrov prompts USSR sweatshirt craze
Lavrov was part of the Russian delegation accompanying President Vladimir Putin for talks with US President Donald Trump on Friday. The nearly three-hour summit in Anchorage included senior officials from both sides and focused on ending the Ukraine conflict.
Lavrov drew attention as he stepped out of his car in a white long-sleeved sweatshirt marked with 'CCCP' – the Russian letters for USSR – across the chest, layered under a black padded vest. The sweater featured black stripes on the cuffs, giving it a retro Soviet look.
Yekaterina Varlakova, owner of SelSovet – the Chelyabinsk-based label that produced the sweater – said demand spiked as soon as Lavrov was seen wearing it.
'The photo caused a sensation. All available pieces were gone by yesterday morning. Customers can now only pre-order, with delivery expected in one to one and a half months,' she told TASS on Saturday.
SelSovet, founded in 2017, rose to prominence by 2021 through social media with the brand mixing retro design with Soviet imagery.
Some media outlets suggested Lavrov's choice of sweater was a deliberate reminder of Ukraine's past status as part of the Soviet Union, though Lavrov himself has made no comment on his attire.
In recent years, Soviet-themed culture has enjoyed renewed popularity in Russia, with retro cafés, bars, and clothing lines embracing the style. Designers describe these items as part of the country's identity, noting that Soviet imagery is increasingly seen as shared history and cultural pride.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
38 minutes ago
- Russia Today
Trump accuses Biden of driving Russia and China closer together
US President Donald Trump has accused his predecessor, Joe Biden, of inadvertently drawing 'natural enemies' Russia and China closer together. Trump made the claim following his summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, which focused on a resolution of the Ukraine conflict. In an interview with Fox News, Trump was asked about Western sanctions on Russia and his recent threat to impose secondary sanctions on countries importing Russian energy, such as India and China. 'He [Biden] did something that was unthinkable. He drove China and Russia together. That's not good… it's the one thing you didn't want to do. Because they are basically natural enemies,' Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity. The US president went on to claim that Russia's vast territory is something that China needs to accommodate its massive population, but 'because of pure stupidity, they were driven together.' Biden's foreign policy included simultaneous confrontation with both Moscow and Beijing, where Washington launched sweeping sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, while tightening restrictions on high technology exports, such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, to China. Moscow and Beijing both slammed the sanctions as unilateral, illegal, and a form of economic bullying, framing them as proof of Washington's disregard for international law. The two countries have since deepened energy and trade cooperation. Moscow has redirected much of its oil and gas exports toward China, while bilateral commerce has expanded to record levels in 2023 and 2024. The two countries have also shifted to settling transactions in local currencies rather than the US dollar, underscoring their effort to reduce reliance on Western financial systems. Since taking office in January, Trump has kept up pressure on China while at the same time moving toward a closer relationship with Russia. His administration has introduced a series of new tariffs on Chinese goods, while refraining from imposing new sanctions on Moscow. The US president described his talks with Putin in Alaska on Friday as 'very productive' and achieving 'great progress.
Russia Today
38 minutes ago
- Russia Today
US calls off latest trade talks with India
US negotiators have called off a planned visit to New Delhi for a sixth round of talks on a bilateral trade agreement, Indian media outlets reported on Saturday. A delegation led by Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch was scheduled to visit India from August 25 to August 30, but the trip has been reportedly canceled, the Financial Express reported, citing an anonymous Indian government official. 'From their (US) side, the trade negotiations (are) halted, whether (this is) forever or temporary, there's still no idea,' the source told the outlet. 'They said they won't come for the August 25 meeting.' The alleged cancelation of the visit comes amid the backdrop of escalating trade tensions between India and the US after President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports with a further 25% to be added on August 27 for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil. Trade talks between New Delhi and Washington have encountered a hurdle, reportedly due to India's hesitation to allow greater access to its agriculture and dairy sectors for US products. On Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that his government will 'stand like a wall' to protect the interests of the nation's farmers. Another point of contention for the US is India's oil purchases from Russia. An official source quoted by the Financial Express stated that India cannot afford to stop importing oil from Russia, citing significant cost implications. The source noted that while India's oil imports from the US have increased, Russian oil is still being purchased, and halting these deliveries is not possible. After his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, Trump suggested he may delay the additional 25% tariff on India. The US president told Fox News that he would consider the question of secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil in 'two or three weeks.'
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
Zelensky could end conflict 'immediately'
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky could bring the fighting with Russia to a halt 'immediately' by agreeing to a settlement that rules out NATO membership and entails territorial concessions, US President Donald Trump has has been summoned to the White House for a meeting on Monday to discuss the potential peace proposal. According to reports, the plan could involve Kiev giving up its remaining positions in Donbass while freezing battle lines elsewhere in exchange for a halt to hostilities. Zelensky has previously rejected such 'can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social network on Sunday.'Remember how it started. No getting back Obama-given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!' he was referring to the events of 2014, when the administration of then-US President Barack Obama did not intervene after Crimea voted to reunite with Russia following a Western-backed coup in US president argues concessions may be needed for peace, but Zelensky insists Crimea and other regions remain Ukrainian and has rejected any compromise. The meeting comes shortly after Trump's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, their first face-to-face encounter since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Both leaders voiced cautious optimism that discussions could help move toward a resolution of the hostilities between Moscow and has repeatedly stated that any settlement should see Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions, undergoing demilitarization and denazification, and recognizing the new territorial reality on the ground, including the status of Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, all of which have voted to become parts of said any settlement must address Russia's concerns, adding that restoring a fair balance in Europe is essential for lasting Sunday, US special envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that Washington and its European allies were considering offering security guarantees to Ukraine outside the framework of NATO.
