Vladimir Putin’s unusual gait has raised questions after the Russian president appeared to limp at the China summit. The Russian president is eager to portray an invincible image like countless dictators before him, and a major part of that is hiding any health troubles enemies could latch onto.
Fresh doubts were cast over the 73-year-old’s health after he was seen traipsing out of his Bentley during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Putin appeared to walk normally at first before taking a slightly limping step as he approached the red carpet and Xi. For a moment, it seemed his foot might give in. While observing the troops next to the Chinese leader, Putin appeared to match his steps, and any sign of a limp was hardly detectable.
Expert Downplays Health Concerns
However, those hoping to see Putin in ill health might be disappointed, Russia expert Stephen Hutchings cautioned. The Russian president has learned to navigate speculations about his health, which have been swirling for more than a decade as he ages, Hutchings, a professor of Russian studies at the University of Manchester, told Metro.
He said: ‘Some of it is wishful thinking. Any slight deviation from what might be considered normal physical appearance is immediately seized upon as evidence of some underlying health problem. There are stories about him having cancer or liver conditions.’ Ageing Putin might have suffered a numb foot during his car ride, or a twisted ankle in the past, he said.
Mental Acuity Remains Sharp
Most of the speculation has always revolved around his physical health because Putin rarely stumbles in his words or lets out bizarre rants – unlike his colleague, US president Donald Trump, who has dropped the F-bomb publicly. Hutchings said: ‘Putin remains as fluent and articulate as he ever has been. He has this annual meeting with the press, and he answers questions sometimes for six hours. One would struggle to find evidence of Putin’s mental ability failing, except that over a period of time, he has become more paranoid and ever more imprisoned in his own world view and propaganda, and that is distorting his judgement.’
Media Control and Declining Popularity
While analysts outside Russia can freely zoom in on Putin’s possible health woes, these reports will never be widely circulated in the country, where the Kremlin keeps a tight control over media and the internet. However, Putin’s popularity at home is on the decline, driven by a change in attitudes towards the war in Ukraine and Putin’s failure to progress it, and a slowing economy, the professor said.
‘The overall sense is that Putin’s image is tarnished, but not because of a physical issue but because of the problems with the economy and failure to realise his goals in Ukraine,’ he added.
