Meeting the King unimportant to Putin

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will dine at the Kremlin Friday evening with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Dutch experts think it is not of much importance for Putin. Marcel de Haas, a researcher at the Centre for Russian Studies at the University of Groningen, thinks the meeting with the King and Queen doesn't mean much to Putin. However, Putin wants to be known as a strong leader in his own country, with a great influence on international politics. In that aspect, it is still important for him to be photographed with heads of state. Anton Zelenov, Wikimedia Putin wants to show Russia is back on the international stage and plays an influential role. The meeting is mainly symbolic, according to Russia expert Marc Jansen, a researcher at the University of Amsterdam. He does not think Willem-Alexander will touch upon the conflict between Russia and the Netherlands in recent times in discussions. He may, at most, make an allusion. Putin will be a bit cynical on the diplomatic importance of the meeting, suspects Jansen. He is more the man who deals with the leaders of America, Germany and China. Netherlands should not count on that Willem-Alexander and Maxima reaching an agreement on the Greenpeace affair. Russia's prestige is very important. You could say that the Netherlands has made a concession by not blowing off the meeting, but that does not mean the Dutch activists will immediately be released. There may be talk in the background about the Greenpeace affair, to get the chill off the air. It is after all of mutual interest, states Jansen. He stressed that the Netherlands is an important trading partner for Russia, and for that reason it is also important that executives from the Russian and Dutch business meet Saturday in Moscow. Trade Minister Lilianne Ploumen, VNO / NCW leader Bernard Wientjes and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovic will also be present. Willem-Alexander will speak briefly. The Dutch and Russian delegations close the Netherlands-Russia Year in Russia. The Russian president came to Amsterdam in April, to open the 'year of friendship' in the Hermitage on the Amstel River and the Maritime Museum. In addition to dinner Friday, there will be a limited and mainly cultural program Saturday. The Royal couple will attend a concert of the Royal Concert Orchestra in the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, and they will visit the newly opened exhibition 'More than Romance' in the Tretyakov Gallery.