Vladimir Putin has "lost his chance" to end the conflict by refusing fresh peace negotiations, Ukraine's foreign minister said. By declining President Zelensky's offer for direct talks, Putin missed an opportunity to exit his failed war, and things will only worsen for Russia with growing battlefield losses and humiliating failures.
Putin's Health Under Scrutiny
Russian President Vladimir Putin's physical condition has come under scrutiny after the Kremlin leader appeared notably frail in a series of recent public appearances. Concerns were first raised earlier this month when he slurred his words during a major Kremlin address, following what some described as a "mini-stroke." A former speechwriter claimed that the 73-year-old suffered a stroke back in 2022.
"Basically, the first time I noticed these stroke-like symptoms in Putin was in 2022, a few months after the war began, when it became clear that a quick, dashing cavalry charge hadn't won the war, and it was a very serious psychological blow to him," the speechwriter told Anyway News, a Ukrainian media project. "Then he started having tremors – his hand would shake, his leg would shake."
Further Signs of Decline
Another indication emerged during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where Putin stumbled while stepping out of his limousine. An observer remarked: "Putin shuffles forward with an awkward stooped gait as he greets Xi." At the ASEAN Summit, a visibly weakened Putin praised Russia's relationship with the bloc, calling it a strategic partnership that stabilizes the Asia-Pacific amid geopolitical turbulence.
Rumors that Putin uses a body double have also spread, adding to speculation about his health.
