- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry may be in Moscow to talk politics, but it was his stroll down the city's Arbat street that attracted attention during the day.
- On a day that included meetings with both Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin, Kerry used a short break for a walk down the famous street. One of the oldest in Moscow, it is known for its souvenir sellers, street musicians and chain cafés, all eager to make some money off visiting travelers.
Secretary Kerry out and about on Arbat this afternoon in #Moscow. #KerryinMoscow pic.twitter.com/4wfbBqSPhJ- Accompanied by the U.S. ambassador to Russia and followed by a group of journalists, Kerry wasn't exactly an inconspicuous sight. So he was soon surrounded by Russians keen to shake hands or say hello.
Secretary Kerry offers his holiday wishes to some folks on Arbat today. #KerryinMoscow pic.twitter.com/xfkxofMrDW- Showing your boss surrounded by cheerful people is a success for any PR team, but Kerry's charm offensive went one step further when he decided to help prop up Russia's struggling economy by shopping for some gifts.
Dollar-rich John Kerry splashed out 35,000 rub on nesting dolls +souvenirs on Moscow's Arbat http://ria.ru/society/20151215/1342500273.html … pic.twitter.com/xWjLrtBkVa- While we haven't been able to independently verify that this bit of conversation took place...
So I see you have Obama matryoski, Clinton ones. Did you not do any for the 2004 election. You know just in case? https://twitter.com/WBStevens/status/676738765252087808 …- ...the one thing we can confirm is that Kerry's visit did indeed spark a trend on Twitter, with "Arbat" popping up among the service's "trending topics" for Russia. They show which terms are currently most used by people posting on Twitter.
- And it turns out his Arbat spoils won't be the only souvenirs Kerry will be taking home from Moscow.
Lavrov: Kerry saw a Santa figurine on our tree, kept playing with it. I gave it to him though he tried to refuse. 😂 pic.twitter.com/atsIa6NcpW
As seen on
themoscowtimes.com
