Vladimir Putin has been advised not to make long public appearances because he is not feeling well, it has been claimed.
The Russian president had to receive emergency medical assistance after falling ill after an hour-and-a-half-long meeting, sources say.
He was on a video call with military leaders according to the General SVR Telegram channel.
The publication said: “His doctors have advised him not to make any lengthy public appearances in the near future.
“The final argument in favor of not speaking to the public was an incident after a recent hour-and-a-half video-link meeting with representatives of the military bloc…
“After the meeting, Putin felt acute malaise, weakness and dizziness when trying to get up from the table.
“The president needed urgent medical assistance.”
Recent allegations have suggested that Putin may be seriously ill with blood cancer and now requires round-the-clock medical care.
And independent Russian media Proekt found that the president’s health may have deteriorated over the past five years.
Although the claims – which are based on insider intelligence – cannot be proven, occasional video footage of Putin’s bizarre behavior seems to suggest there is something not quite right under the surface.
Recent photos show him looking frailer or with a swollen face, and he was seen grabbing the side of tables to keep his hand from shaking.
General SVR suggested that Putin’s latest medical advice could explain why he suddenly canceled his annual “Direct Line” live show.
The Q&A program has usually been held in June every year since 2004 and allows “ordinary” Russians to call and ask the president questions.
But it was abruptly postponed with no future date set.
General SVR wrote: ‘The postponement of the live [Direct Line] with the president indefinitely is due to the unstable health of Vladimir Putin.
“A week ago, the president was preparing to answer questions from Russian citizens at the end of June-beginning of July.
“Lately, the president is getting tired much faster.
“Maybe if Putin’s health can be stabilized, the direct line will come in August.
“The Russian president’s indisposition has recently become increasingly difficult to conceal.”
Despite the reports, he was also seen yesterday at an event marking the 350th anniversary of the birth of Peter the Great, a former emperor of Russia.
He admitted to an audience that Russians will have to wait a decade to live better after the invasion of Ukraine.
In front of young entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists, he was asked: “So, will we live better in 10 years?
He answered: “Yes, finally this [reaching the goals I have set] will lead to a better quality of life.
Body language expert Judi James analyzed the president’s demeanor during that appearance, telling the Mirror: “For a man who is usually immaculately dressed, his pose left his tie askew and his shirt looking gaping between the buttons.
“At one point he seems aware of how his stomach is one way and his tie the other, pulling his tie down the front of his shirt even though he seems perfectly comfortable with this sign of disturbance. .
“This style of smugness combined with humor and a relaxed pose seems to suggest a man who finds irony or sarcasm in the current global state of tension and threat.”
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