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A new video of Vladimir Putin looking "astonishingly weakened" has triggered fresh speculation about the Russian President's health.
The Russia-Ukraine war appears to have taken a toll on Putin since he first ordered troops to invade the neighbouring nation on February 24.
In the televised meeting on Thursday (April 21) a "bloated" Putin is sitting at a desk and discussing the ongoing invasion of Ukraine with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu.
The pair are discussing the "liberation" of the heavily-bombed Ukrainian city of Mariupol and Putin looks very unwell.
He grips the corner of the desk throughout the entire meeting and appears to be slightly slumped in his chair.
Putin also seems to unintentionally grimace in between sentences as if he might be in physical discomfort or even pain.
There have been longstanding theories about Putin's health woes, including one that he is suffering from thyroid cancer and has all the symptoms.
Professor Erik Bucy, a body language expert from Texas Tech University, told The Sun Online: "It’s an astonishingly weakened Putin compared to the man we observed even a few years ago.
"An able-bodied president would not need to keep himself propped up with a hand held out for leverage and would not be concerned about keeping both feet planted on the ground."
Prof Bucy also described Putin as looking "increasingly feeble" and pointed out his "thin" legs as well as "bloating in his face".
The expert suggested the Russian President may be suffering from unintended weight loss due to a secret illness.
Shoigu was also subject to theories about his own health after "disappearing" for more than a month, although he now seems to be back in the picture.
Rumours were swirling around that he had suffered a heart attack and his daughter posted a cryptic message on social media about how "proud" she felt about him.
- Vladimir Putin
- Russia Ukraine war
- Russia
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