Nicolai Haugsted
The Russian president did not getting the warmest welcome.
Chinese and Russian officials focused heavily on trade, energy security and geopolitical cooperation Wednesday as Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for talks with President Xi Jinping. Much of the attention online, however, quickly shifted elsewhere.
Video from the official reception at the Great Hall of the People circulated widely after observers pointed to Putin’s walk while approaching Xi on the red carpet.
Footage showed the Russian president moving stiffly as he stepped forward in elevated dress shoes during the welcoming ceremony in Tiananmen Square.
Ukrainian commentators react to footage
According to Express, several Ukrainian accounts mocked the appearance almost immediately after clips surfaced online.
“The orc can barely walk,” one Ukrainian channel wrote, using a derogatory term aimed at the Russian president.
Another social media user questioned whether Putin required assistance while walking.
“Is he using an exoskeleton?” the commenter wrote.
Additional reactions focused on Putin’s posture and movement during the meeting with Xi.
“Putin shuffles forward with an awkward stooped gait as he greets Xi in Beijing,” another observer wrote online.
Questions raised during state visit
Footage from earlier in the day also attracted attention after Putin exited his presidential Ilyushin aircraft, known informally as the “Flying Kremlin”. Russian Foreign Minister Wang Yi accompanied the 73-year-old leader after arrival in China.
Online speculation surrounding Putin’s health has circulated repeatedly since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, though the Kremlin has consistently rejected suggestions that the Russian president suffers from serious medical problems.
Discussion around the visit also extended to diplomatic optics. Some political observers argued that Beijing offered Putin a warmer reception than Donald Trump reportedly received during a recent visit, where Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng greeted the former US president.
Energy and Iran discussed during talks
Formal discussions between Moscow and Beijing centered heavily on international trade and growing instability in the Middle East.
Xi warned that ongoing conflict in the region threatens global energy markets and international supply chains, according to statements released after the meeting.
Russian officials meanwhile signaled that Moscow wants a larger role in discussions connected to Iran’s nuclear programme.
Alexei Likhachev, head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said Iran has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons.
“Iran has once again made a statement that it has never sought and will not seek to create nuclear weapons,” Likhachev said.
“The Americans have once again made a statement that they will never allow the creation of nuclear weapons in Iran.”
“Therefore, it would be nice against this backdrop to direct highly enriched uranium to the peaceful sphere, which [Russia] can do easily and with pleasure.”
