Putin shuffles forward with awkward stooped gait as he greets Xi in Beijing (Image: Kremlin.ru/e2w)
Vladimir Putin appeared to walk awkwardly as he arrived for his summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing.
The Russian president’s right leg seemed stiff or painful as he strode in his platform shoes onto the red carpet to meet the Chinese leader on Wednesday for bilateral talks that come just days after Donald Trump’s state visit to China. Ukrainian sources immediately mocked Putin over footage from the official welcome at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square.
“The orc can barely walk,” said one Ukrainian channel using a derogatory word for Russians. Another observer said: “Putin shuffles forward with an awkward stooped gait as he greets Xi in Beijing.”
One commenter asked: “Is he using an exoskeleton?” Putin is believed to use adapted shoes to increase his 5ft 7in height in comparison to other leaders. Xi is believed to be 5ft 11in.
There were earlier awkward moments while exiting the Kremlin presidential aircraft as Putin, 73, walked with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the politburo since 2022.
Some overseers believed Putin received a superior welcome than Trump last week. The US president was met by vice-president Han Zheng, seen as having little sway and no longer in the politburo, after touching down in Beijing.
Putin praised his close ties with Xi and said their countries are partners in trade and international affairs as they opened the bilateral talks. “My dear friend,” Putin said as he greeted Xi warmly.
“We are truly delighted to see you. We keep in constant touch, both personally and through our aides in the government,” he added. Xi stressed the “political mutual trust and strategic cooperation” between the countries, according to Chinese state media.
The two leaders have praised each other profusely in the past, with Xi at one point describing Putin as his “best and most intimate friend.”
Putin was greeted by Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Xi and Putin were set to focus on energy and security as well as their overall ties. The two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001, Chinese state media reported.
Putin also stressed China and Russia’s cooperation in foreign policy as “one of the key stabilizing factors on the international stage.”
“In the current tense situation on the international stage, our close cooperation is particularly in demand,” he said. In February 2022, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia announced a “no limits” partnership during a trip by Putin to Beijing.
The two leaders are scheduled to sign cooperation agreements during Putin’s two-day visit.
Beijing says it is neutral in the conflict, though in practice it supports Moscow through frequent state visits, growing trade and joint military drills. China has also ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia’s weapons industries.
]]>