DONALD Trump was gifted a portrait of himself by Putin, the Kremlin confirmed, after the president slammed a Brit artist’s work as “truly the worst”.

Zelensky claimed hours later that White House officials are under the influence of Russia.

Both the Kremlin and the White House confirmed on Monday that Putin commissioned an artist to paint Trump as a gift to the president.

Steve Witkoff, the US’s special envoy, acknowledged the present – which he called a “beautiful portrait” by “a leading Russian artist”.

Laying it on thick, Witkoff said Trump was “clearly touched” by the gesture from Putin – who he said was “super smart” and not “a bad guy”.

And Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin had bestowed a “personal gift” to Trump – which was given to Witkoff in Moscow earlier this month.

He added that only Putin himself would disclose further details about the artwork.

The new portrait has not been seen publicly, but it was verified on the same day that Trump blasted another portrait hanging in the Colorado State Capitol building.

The president unleashed a scathing rant over the visage, and even claimed it was “purposefully distorted”.

He noted that Barack Obama’s, on the other hand, looked “wonderful”.

Zelensky said in his nightly address that Trump had parroted Kremlin propaganda.

About Russia’s claim that thousands of Ukrainian troops had been encircled in Kursk – repeated by Trump – Zelensky said: “That was a lie.”

He added: “I believe Russia has managed to influence some people on the White House team through information.

“Their signal to the Americans was that the Ukrainians do not want to end the war, and something should be done to force them.”

The piece was officially recognised as American and Russian negotiators returned to the table in Saudi Arabia.

It’s signal of thawed tensions – and something of a personal relationship – between the two leaders.

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