Granted, it's not like you're going to get Putin or one of his friends on Western media these days, but they had an analyst who's been following Putin for twenty years commenting that the circle of people he trusts is constantly shrinking.

So sitting at these long tables is a combination of paranoia over letting anyone get close to him and a political mind game to show that even if he's willing to talk to you, he will never be close to you.

Contrast that with almost any pic of a US president meeting another dignitary, even one from, say, China...they will at least stand or sit next to each other and smile for the cameras even if they have no chance of ever agreeing on anything.