<p>President Vladimir Putin has gifted eight golden rings to Moscow-allied leaders of post-Soviet countries, sparking a torrent of jokes and comparisons with power-hungry tyrant Sauron from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.</p>.<p>During a summit that took place in Saint Petersburg on Monday and Tuesday, the leaders of eight post-Soviet states received golden rings that showcase the emblem of the regional organisation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and feature the engraved words "Russia" and "Happy New Year 2023."</p>.<p>Putin kept the ninth ring for himself.</p>.<p>Of the foreign leaders, only Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko was pictured wearing the present.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/blast-at-russian-base-after-apparent-ukrainian-drone-penetrates-deep-1175428.html" target="_blank">Blast at Russian base after apparent Ukrainian drone penetrates deep</a></strong></p>.<p>Some political commentators such as prominent political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann said the allusion to the epic fantasy trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien was intentional.</p>.<p>In Tolkien's classic, Sauron gives rings to nine kings in order to enslave them and bend them to his will.</p>.<p>Since Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February, the Ukrainian authorities have regularly compared Russia to "Mordor", the kingdom of Sauron, and Russian forces to "Orcs", the soldiers of Sauron.</p>.<p>At first glance the gifting of the rings looks like a "fever dream", wrote Schulmann, a Tolkien aficionado.</p>.<p>"It was of course done deliberately," she added on messaging app Telegram.</p>.<p>Another political commentator, Yulia Latynina, called the gifts "rings of powerlessness," an apparent reference to Putin's growing international isolation over his assault on Ukraine.</p>.<p>"Every state whose ruler puts on this ring will turn into darkness ruled by a madman," Latynina quipped.</p>.<p>"I think Putin will wear the ring alone. And not for long."</p>.<p>Wits in Ukraine had particular fun mocking the Kremlin chief.</p>.<p>"Putin got tired of being the Hitler of the 21st century and decided to play Lord of the Rings," wrote Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko.</p>.<p>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no need to read too much into the meaning of the gifts.</p>.<p>"It's just a New Year's souvenir, there's nothing special about it," he said. Putin will not be wearing his ring, he added.</p>
<p>President Vladimir Putin has gifted eight golden rings to Moscow-allied leaders of post-Soviet countries, sparking a torrent of jokes and comparisons with power-hungry tyrant Sauron from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.</p>.<p>During a summit that took place in Saint Petersburg on Monday and Tuesday, the leaders of eight post-Soviet states received golden rings that showcase the emblem of the regional organisation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and feature the engraved words "Russia" and "Happy New Year 2023."</p>.<p>Putin kept the ninth ring for himself.</p>.<p>Of the foreign leaders, only Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko was pictured wearing the present.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/blast-at-russian-base-after-apparent-ukrainian-drone-penetrates-deep-1175428.html" target="_blank">Blast at Russian base after apparent Ukrainian drone penetrates deep</a></strong></p>.<p>Some political commentators such as prominent political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann said the allusion to the epic fantasy trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien was intentional.</p>.<p>In Tolkien's classic, Sauron gives rings to nine kings in order to enslave them and bend them to his will.</p>.<p>Since Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February, the Ukrainian authorities have regularly compared Russia to "Mordor", the kingdom of Sauron, and Russian forces to "Orcs", the soldiers of Sauron.</p>.<p>At first glance the gifting of the rings looks like a "fever dream", wrote Schulmann, a Tolkien aficionado.</p>.<p>"It was of course done deliberately," she added on messaging app Telegram.</p>.<p>Another political commentator, Yulia Latynina, called the gifts "rings of powerlessness," an apparent reference to Putin's growing international isolation over his assault on Ukraine.</p>.<p>"Every state whose ruler puts on this ring will turn into darkness ruled by a madman," Latynina quipped.</p>.<p>"I think Putin will wear the ring alone. And not for long."</p>.<p>Wits in Ukraine had particular fun mocking the Kremlin chief.</p>.<p>"Putin got tired of being the Hitler of the 21st century and decided to play Lord of the Rings," wrote Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenko.</p>.<p>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no need to read too much into the meaning of the gifts.</p>.<p>"It's just a New Year's souvenir, there's nothing special about it," he said. Putin will not be wearing his ring, he added.</p>