Vladimir Putin has a giant axe to grind with the West

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It has always been apparent that Vladimir Putin has an axe to grind with the West.

And this snap of the all-action Russian premier suggests he may not be planning to bury the hatchet with Britain and America any time soon.

Putin was oddly photographed striking the axe-crutiating pose with the giant axe during a tour of the space show in Zhukovsky, just outside Moscow, today.

With his approval ratings in Russia at a record high, it seems unlikely the controversial leader will need to pursue a new career as a lumberjack any time soon.