VLADIMIR Putin’s legs appeared to shake uncontrollably as he bid farewell to Donald Trump at the Alaskan summit, leading to speculation that he might have been wearing lifts in his shoes.
Many claim the Russian leader opted for the height-boosting shoes to minimise his height difference with the 6ft3 inch-tall US president.
This comes amid ongoing rumors about the Russian leader’s health, including claims of Parkinson’s or cancer, though such rumors have been consistently denied by the Kremlin.
Ukrainian news outlets were quick to point out Putin’s unsteady legs, questioning whether his twitching was due to wearing height-enhancing shoes.
Times of Ukraine said: “Attention — Putin’s legs. What is wrong with them?”
Telegram channel Nevzorov commented, “Putin seems to have achieved his goal, but his legs are twitching, perhaps his shoes are tight.”
Trump, who stands at an impressive 6ft3, towers over Putin, who is just 5ft7, leading many to speculate whether Putin chose thick-soled shoes for added height during their significant meeting.
One Ukrainian outlet suggested that Putin “suddenly grew” for the meeting and even wondered if he wore an exoskeleton to improve his posture.
The wearable device can be worn to aid individuals with physical movement and improve motion.
Footage showed Putin repeatedly bending his knee as he stood speaking to Trump.
Leaning slightly on his left side, he also repeatedly raised his left toe and heel as though to steady himself amid the constant jerking.
The US President greeted his Russian counterpart on the tarmac at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Air Base on Friday.
Trump later hailed his talks with Vladimir Putin as “great and very successful” as he detailed the next steps in securing peace in Ukraine.
The US delegation left Alaska in Air Force One after a busy day and landed back in Washington shortly after 7am.
He then revealed on Truth Social that he informed the European side and Zelensky of Putin’s main wish for a complete end to the war instead of a ceasefire.
HEALTH CONCERNS
It’s not the first time Putin has sparked speculation over his health because of his twitchy legs.
Last year, Professor Erik Bucy, body language pro, told The Sun that the Russian despot appeared fidgety and “emaciated” as he sagged during his famous interview with Tucker Carlson.
Bucy said that “Putin is not completely comfortable in his own skin”, pointing to his twitching feet, fidgety hands and sagging posture.
She explained: “Putin does not sit as comfortably as Carlson, nor does he show as much bodily discipline, circling his feet at times perhaps out of nervousness or physical discomfort.”
Bizarre footage then emerged later that year showing the depot twitching wildly at a public event in Astana, Kazakhstan.
During the hour-long speech, the Russian president continually moved his legs and feet in a movement that seemed involuntary as his muscles appeared to twitch.
First, his right foot started moving from side to side then the bizarre movement appeared to affect more of his leg with his knee and his twitching and moving.
Concerns about Putin’s health have been raised for years after the president’s “strongman” image took a hit due to dramatic changes in his appearance.
Parkinson’s rumours first emerged over three years ago when Vlad appeared bloated and shaky as he barked orders at defence chief Sergei Shoigu over the siege of Mariupol.
He has also been seen having difficulty walking, appearing out of breath, and pulling bizarre gurning faces.
The tyrant has also appeared to be in some kind of pain as he was previously filmed strongly gripping tables while in meetings.
Around the same time in 2022, experts started highlighting his “bloated” and “weakened” appearance as some suggested he could have had thyroid cancer.
It was also at this time that the despot’s twitching legs were first noticed.
In July of that year, the leader’s face twitched and his legs wobbled as he waited 48 seconds for a handshake with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
