Putin presented Zakharova with a casket with the image of the Kremlin and St. George the Victorious

On December 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a gift to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in the Kremlin — a casket with the image of the Kremlin and St. George the Victorious.

Zakharova thanked the president and presented him with a gift in return.

"It's funny here. There's a letter in an envelope. <...> A two—page essay," she said, laughing.

Later, the diplomat showed Putin's gift to journalist Alexander Yunashev, the video was posted on the journalist's Telegram channel.

"It's very beautiful, especially since our crafts, all our traditional genres, are simply fantastic. <...> I think this box is treasured," Zakharova said.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry celebrated her birthday during the recording of the January edition of the program "Songs from the bottom of my Heart" with presenter Andrei Malakhov. The diplomat noted that her own songs were also performed during the program.

Putin awarded Zakharova the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, during the state awards ceremony in the Catherine Hall of the Kremlin. The President also congratulated the diplomat on her 50th birthday, calling her the voice of Russian diplomacy.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.