Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared ‘frail’, ‘off-colour’ during a meeting with Belarusian ally Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk this week. Putin headed to the Belarusian capital on Friday where he discussed with Lukashenko the latest developments on the war in Ukraine.
The report by Daily Mail claimed that Putin “looked off-colour” during the conference with Lukashenko. It claimed that Putin “appeared frail” as both leaders talked. It said that Putin appeared “tired and rundown” during a press conference where he briefed reporters on the gains made by Russian soldiers in Ukraine’s Kharkiv.
Both leaders also discussed domestic nuclear drills and agreed on continued cooperation.
The report said that Putin on several occasions was captured gripping a table for support, tapping his feet and appearing unsteady while walking and appeared more rounded and puffy over the years, making observations based on footage from official meetings and appearances.
In December 2023, Putin cancelled a presidential trip to Pskov at the last minute due to ‘unfavourable flying conditions’. The weather forecast suggested that skies would be clear. This led many to question whether he was as healthy as the Kremlin claims him to be. He also cancelled a visit to Russia’s biggest tank plant in Nizhny Tagil and then did not appear at the annual end-of-year meeting of his ministers and then went on to cancel his traditional December press conference and end-of-year ice hockey game.
Vladimir Putin said Russia is willing to hold talks about the war in Ukraine but questioned whether Volodymyr Zelenskyy has the legitimacy to negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf.
“Of course, we are aware that the legitimacy of the current head of state has ended,” Putin said at a news conference in Minsk after talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
“We must be completely sure that we are dealing with legitimate authorities,” said Putin, who has repeatedly stated that Russia is ready for talks with Ukraine.
The two-day visit to Belarus was one of several foreign tours Putin used to kick off his fifth term in office. Since his May 7 inauguration, he also has gone to China and is expected in Uzbekistan on Sunday.
Russia and Belarus have increasingly close relations and foresee eventually forming a so-called “union state.”
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