The key facts
- The Putin–Witkoff meeting is scheduled for October 21, in the first half of the day, at Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg
- According to Bogacheva, the standard temperature in negotiation rooms is 22.6°, and still water is provided
- The main topic of the talks is said to be the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine; Jared Kushner was unable to come due to illness
Preparing the hall for the talks
The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled for October 21 at Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg. Etiquette expert Ekaterina Bogacheva told Life.ru about the subtleties of diplomatic protocol and the work of services ahead of the talks. According to her, even the air temperature, the position of the doors, and the water on the table matter.
Temperature, water, and stationery
Bogacheva noted that negotiation rooms are usually kept at a temperature of 22.6° — according to the standards of one of the companies where she worked, this is considered optimal. She did not venture to say anything definite about this particular meeting. A room that is too cold or too hot can affect the participants' well-being and the working atmosphere, so the temperature is checked in advance, although not every venue allows it to be set with precision to the degree. The water, according to the expert, is always still, and some protocol services bring their own water taking into account the leader's preferences. The same applies to pens, paper, and other supplies: each delegation may have its own requirements.
Seating, cameras, and the hall
A specific hall is selected for each event taking into account the convenience of participants, the host side, the protocol service, and accompanying persons. Representatives of various departments, including the Federal Protective Service, inspect the venue in advance: they check the placement of nameplates, the availability of documents, water, and other items. Guests are generally not seated with their back to the entrance, since a person may feel insecure without seeing what is happening behind them. The seating may be changed for the sake of a good shot, for example if there is a painting behind the participants. Bogacheva considers an oval hall a good option, as it allows the interlocutors to be placed in equal positions. Camera positions are chosen to suit the room for good angles; the duration of filming depends on the agreements between the parties, and in a closed format journalists are sometimes allowed in only briefly, before the arrival of the high-ranking guest.
Details of the meeting
According to presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the talks are scheduled for the first half of the day. On the Russian side, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, will also take part. The main topic will be the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. Jared Kushner was unable to come to St. Petersburg due to illness.
