Kathrine Frich
Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared visibly unsteady during a recent press event in Moscow, sparking renewed speculation over his health.
The 73-year-old leader was seen swaying as he delivered a warning to the United States, reigniting years of unverified rumours about his physical condition.
Growing concern
Footage from Thursday’s appearance showed Putin addressing journalists while appearing to rock slightly back and forth.
The incident follows months of public scrutiny after similar episodes, including one in August when he was seen limping during his summit with former US President Donald Trump in Alaska.
Observers at the time noted that Putin’s legs seemed to shake as he said goodbye to Trump, an image that spread rapidly on social media.
The Kremlin has consistently dismissed claims about his health, calling them “fabrications.”
Warnings to Washington
During his Moscow appearance, Putin criticised Washington for reportedly considering sending long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
He said such a move would be “an unfriendly act towards Russia.”
“This is an obvious thing, and it does not strengthen Russian-American relations, which have just begun to recover,” he told reporters.
“Of course, with such actions the US administration damages Russian-American relations.”
The Russian president added:
“This, of course, is an attempt to put pressure on Russia. But no self-respecting country and no self-respecting people ever decide anything under pressure. And, of course, Russia has such a privilege to feel and consider itself on this list of self-respecting countries and peoples.”
Strained diplomacy
Putin’s remarks came amid tensions over the cancellation of his planned meeting with Trump in Hungary, intended to discuss ending the conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian leader called the cancellation “a mistake,” saying:
“It would be a mistake both for me and the US President to approach this lightly and leave the meeting without the expected result.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the US to supply longer-range weapons, arguing they could force Moscow to negotiate.
Persistent rumours
Speculation about Putin’s health dates back years, with claims he might be battling cancer or Parkinson’s disease.
None of these allegations have been substantiated.
The Kremlin continues to reject them outright, and Western intelligence sources have said there is no concrete evidence of serious illness.
Despite the denials, Thursday’s footage is likely to fuel ongoing rumours, especially as the Russian leader faces both international pressure and domestic scrutiny.
Sources: Express, AFP, Reuters
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
