At the start of their deliberations, the heads of state and government at the G7 summit cracked jokes about Russian President Vladimir Putin, who likes to pose shirtless. The first working session on Sunday at Schloss Elmau was initially only about the question of whether the participants should take off their jackets in summer temperatures.

“Jackets on? Jackets off?” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked while photographers were still in the room. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then suggested waiting until the round’s official photo was taken. But Johnson insisted: “We have to show that we are stronger than Putin.”

Trudeau chimed in and joked that the group should be photographed “riding shirtless,” like Putin did in 2009. Without apparently going into the question of clothing, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is a passionate rider, said: “Horseback riding is the best.”

But Johnson didn’t give up and demanded: “We have to show them our abs.” The panel then left their jackets on until the photographers had to leave the room – and the end of the clothing debate remained in the dark behind closed doors.