Kanye West is splashing the cash on his surprise Moscow trip.

The 47-year-old controversial rapper reportedly touched down in the Russian capital on Sunday, with his presence thought to be part of a propaganda stunt for dictator Vladimir Putin. Seeing that most Western stars have shunned Moscow – which once was a huge location for high-profile performers – since the start of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, Kanye’s apparent choice of city break location has come as quite a shock.

The record-breaking artist announced his arrival on VK – a Russian social media platform – yesterday, writing, “Hello Moscow”, in Russian. While Kanye is said to have been accompanied by his wife, 29-year-old Bianca Censori, on the trip, she has not been spotted in Moscow so far.

A video appeared to show Ye entering a restaurant in GUM shopping mall ( Image: Yana Rudkovskaya/e2w)

As speculation grows that Kanye will be meeting with Putin in the coming days, Ye has been staying in a $13,000-per-night presidential suite in central Moscow’s Four Seasons hotel, according to reports.

Yesterday, video footage apparently of the Gold Digger rapper, showed the star dressed in all white, accompanied by sizeable bodyguards as he walked through the city’s luxury shopping mall, GUM.

The star treated his seven-man security team ( Image: Yana Rudkovskaya/e2w)

Ye wore white and a black bandana ( Image: Yana Rudkovskaya/e2w)

The father-of-four reportedly did not hold back when he treated his security team to lunch, footing a bill that came to $1,000. According to Russian media, the rapper and his seven bodyguards ordered around 30 menu items which totted up to 72,000 rubles ($822), with Ye – who reportedly ordered a Coke Zero and baked salmon with pesto and greens – adding a healthy tip. The outlet added that Ye was rumored to have been discussing “a project related to Russia” during the meal.

Russian fans have been hoping the star will be performing live at some point during his visit. Sadly for them, according to state media and Kremlin sources, no such upcoming concert has been scheduled, who say the reason for Kanye’s visit is to celebrate the 40th birthday of Russian fashion designer Gosha Rubchinskiy.

His trip was controversial ( Image: Yana Rudkovskaya/e2w)

However, music industry insiders revealed that, following his controversial past few years, Ye has been pushing to perform in Russia after finding it increasingly challenging to book shows in Europe. Speaking to the US Sun, one insider said: “His reputation and the controversies in the last few years are the main reason for this,” adding: “Now almost no companies that manage arenas or stadiums want to allow him to do shows on their venues.”

However, one close Putin backer – unofficial moral guardian Ekaterina Mizulina, 39 – insisted in May that the star should not be welcomed in Russia. “We don’t need any Kanye West with his naked woman,” she said. “We have enough of our own ‘naked’ parties.”

Ye chowed down on salmon and pesto while he discussed business, according to reports ( Image: Mash; e2w news)

But other Putin loyalists believe it will be a triumph to have the prominent singer eventually performing in Russia. Putin-backing TV presenter and media manager Tina Kandelaki, 48, announced in May: “Kanye will soon be with us….”

She told rival broadcasters her TV channel already had rights for a Kanye West tour to Moscow. “I want to warn you that all rights to a possible broadcast of the concert are already in the hands of TNT, do not try to lure our overseas comrade to your camp,” she said.