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YOU MIGHT EXPECT your typical Old Etonian would feel quite at home with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And so it proved.
The strongman leader has kept Queen Elizabeth II and the Pope waiting, but recently found time to meet a group of students from Britain’s most privileged school.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today confirmed that Putin held an hour-long audience with students from the prestigious school about a week ago, in the same room where the Russian leader met Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad.
David Wei, one of those present at the meeting, wrote on Facebook in a post that was later deleted: “It took me a total of 10 months, 1,040 emails, 1,000 text messages, countless sleepless nights, constant paranoia during A2 exam season, declining academic performance … but here we are.
Guys, we truly gave Putin a deep impression of us and he responded by showing us his human face.
A Facebook post from a US scholarship programme identified one of those on the trip as Trenton Bricken, of Duke University’s class of 2020.
According to the post, Bricken “took a quick break from his Duke orientation this week to be part of a delegation from his high school to visit Russia. This visit was hosted by the Russian government and included a two-hour private meeting with President Vladimir Putin!”
Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman said a Russian Orthodox monk, Archimandrite Tikhon, who acts as the president’s spiritual adviser, set up the meeting after giving a speech at the world-famous boarding school.
“It was an absolutely private visit by the boys and the meeting was not public,” Peskov told journalists, saying Putin took part in “an open discussion”.
“It was interesting for both the president and for the boys but it would be wrong to give more details as it really was a private conversation which was not intended to be publicised.”
The British media has reported on the unlikely encounter after some of the students involved posted pictures of themselves meeting Putin and posing in the Kremlin.
One of the students, Trenton Bricken – who apparently finished his time at Eton this summer – wrote on Facebook that: ”He was small in person but not in presence.”
He posted a picture of himself shaking the Russian strongman’s hand, prompting some wry commentary online – not least from the Ukrainian embassy in Britain.
Ukraine's Emb. to UK / TwitterEton College @Eton_College commented on the meeting of a group of its students with Ru President Putin pic.twitter.com/o1CXLZhj2P
— Embassy of Ukraine to the UK (@UkrEmbLondon) September 1, 2016
Old Etonians include Prince William and Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne as well as former Prime Minister David Cameron – who fell out with Putin over the crisis in Ukraine – and current UK foreign minister Boris Johnson.
Bill Browder / TwitterWonder if he stole their school rings? Eton pupils enjoy private audience with Vladimir Putin at Kremlin https://t.co/WxGxcx559W
— Sir William Browder KCMG (@Billbrowder) August 31, 2016
The meeting with the public schoolboys came ahead of Putin’s first encounter with new British leader Theresa May at the G20 in China, with both sides saying they are interested in improving the dire relations between their two countries.
With reporting from AFP. - © AFP, 2016
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Like it or not, these are the next generation of political and business leaders in the UK.
That is the simple reality.
I actually find it encouraging that they sought to meet the man himself rather than depend on the image of him displayed by western media which has become almost farcical in some quarters.
The opening paragraph of this piece is a classic example of personal opinion presented as fact and reflects poorly on the professional standards of the author setting a negative tone from the get go.
Another smart move by Putin again to meet and connect with the future power in the UK.
Not the clown he is often presented to be.
Reminds me so much of the David Cameron and Boris Johnson Top and Tails pic from their Eton days. The peace sign picture with them lying on the floor, there’s probably a prime minister in there or at the very least Chancellor. Mad stuff.
Farcical for a reason. There’s no doubt Putin is a strong leader. The issue is the direction he wants to go
“HE HAS AN air of entitlement, a penchant for arrogance, a history of inflicting violence on defenceless victims, a reputation for tacky ostentation and a seemingly deep need to look powerful before the world” oh I thought it was about Tony Blair.
That seemed to be a very apt description of one Nicolas Sarkozy
What an experience that must have been. Kudos to the lads for all their hard work securing the privilege.
I’m sure privilege had a lot to do with securing the privilege.
He knew there’d be naked wrestling and boars heads afterwards, they’re his kinda lads all right.
He meets who he wants, he meets who he waaaaannnnnnts…………He`s Vladimir Putin………….He meets who he wants………
Reporting the activities of these spoilt brats is unnecessary. Journal, please focus on worthy content because no one really gives a s**t about those muppets.
Roger , don’t be so ignorant! so what your saying is just because theses young guys worked hard to attend one of the best universities in the world it automatically makes them “spoilt brats”like it or not they’re going to be the next generation of leader and your not probably because they worked harder. Meeting Putin took some effort which is shown above and fair play to their commitment. People in this country such as yourself are such begrudgers.
Well done lads. Meet the guy face to face and suss him out for yourselves. Don’t depend on biased media bs such as this article.
I hope they asked him why his thugs shot down a passenger plane over Ukraine with a lot of children ion board.
Or did they ask him if he had any regrets about his murderous assault on the Chechen capital Grozny, where Russia bombarded the city killing thousands of civilians……..
The UN called it ” The most destroyed city on earth ”
Doubt it somehow …………….
It was a prize for the top soggy biscuit performers in dorm – born to rule
“HE HAS AN air of entitlement, a penchant for arrogance, a history of inflicting violence on defenceless victims, a reputation for tacky ostentation and a seemingly deep need to look powerful before the world”.
Sums up Putin nicely.
Throw an S on the start of that sentence and you have hillary clinton too mick, leave off the S and you have the last 3 American presidents too
But this story is about Putin. So why would I change it to mention anyone else? And that first sentence of the piece about Putin is accurate. He is a megalomaniac.
I didn`t say you should change it mick, i merely pointed out that with or without the S it matched a lot of US presidents and a hopeful president, try and keep up there old chap :-)
It must bring a tear to the old Eton eyes of Maclean, Burgess and Philby………(sniffle)
They were at Cambridge.
Although Burgess did attend Eton for some time.
This is so biased the opening actually gave me a giggle! Jaysus! Putin on the Ritz ;)
The two bell ends on the right of the second photo look like Trent Potter and Harry Havemeyer from Scent of a Woman.
How was the tall guy allowed to be in a photo with Comrade Shortarse? Never thought I’d see the day.
First paragraph that was deleted “HE HAS AN air of entitlement, a penchant for arrogance, a history of inflicting violence on defenceless victims, a reputation for tacky ostentation and a seemingly deep need to look powerful before the world. You might say your typical Old Etonian would feel quite at home with a Russian President Vladimir Putin. And so it proved.”
Not only was it deleted, but a load of comments criticising it have been culled too
I see the Etonians werent wearing the Dickensian coattails and starched white collar which is the ‘uniform’. Couldnt believe it when I saw it en masse passing through the town of Eton a few years ago.
Eton, the most expensive university therefore the best!
It’s a Secondly School.
Eton is a secondary school which caters for boys from 13 to 18.
Underlines the myth of social mobility. A recent study found that English people with Norman surnames are still wealthier than other Britain’s.
All his friends are vertical and all his enemies are horizontal
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