Russian President Vladimir Putin's physical condition has come under scrutiny after the Kremlin leader cut a noticeably frail figure across a series of recent public appearances.
Concerns over Putin's health were first raised earlier this month when he was seen slurring his words during a major address at the Kremlin, following what some have described as a 'mini-stroke'.
A former speechwriter has 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,' he told Anyway News, a Ukrainian media project. 'Then he started having tremors - you know, his hand would shake, his leg would shake.'
'It is a strategic partnership that serves as an essential stabilizing factor in the Asia-Pacific amidst geopolitical turbulence, contributing to the formation of a balanced security architecture and equitable mutually beneficial cooperation,' a visibly weakened-looking Putin declared.
