Meanwhile, stony-faced Mr Putin, is shown being given a tour of the Almazov National Medical Research Centre in what could be seen as a sly nod to the apparent assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal, who is currently being treated in a UK medical facility.
British PM Theresa May claims the Russian President approved the attack and has expelled 23 diplomats in retaliation.
Mr Putin is accompanied by Yevgeny Shlyakhto, the centre’s general director, Russia’s healthcare minister Veronica Skvortsova and other dignitaries.
It is the latest is a series of political tit-for-tat posturing ever since the attack on Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia on March 5.
Defence Minister Gavin Williamson yesterday raised eyebrows with his choice of words when he said told Russia to “go away and shut up” following the Russian response to Mrs May’s Commons Statement in which she said the Russians were “very likely” responsible.
And the Russian embassy’s official Twitter feed has kept up a steady stream of provocative messages, at on point tweeting: “The temperature of British/Russian relations drops to -23, but we are not afraid of cold weather.”