Video of ‘unsteady’ Vladimir Putin fuels rumours about secret ailing health

Vladimir Putin’s hands violently and he looks unsteady while standing in a resurfaced clip further fuelling health fears. WATCH VIDEO

Vladimir Putin has sparked rumours he has major health problems after footage resurfaced showing him shaking uncontrollably as he firmly grips his chair.

The clip, which was taken on February 18, shows the Russian president’s hands tremble violently as he greets Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin.

Mr Putin can be seen looking unsteady and his knees buckle as he walks to embrace his Belarusian counterpart in the footage which has been viewed more than 1 million times.

He pulls it into his body in an attempt to quell the shakes, but then he almost stumbles as he unsteadily walks towards Mr Lukashenko.

This video of Vladimir Putin shows his hand shaking ‘uncontrollably’.

Later, Mr Putin sits on a chair but is unable to remain still, constantly fidgeting and tapping his feet while he grips onto the arm for support.

Professor Erik Bucy, a body language expert from Texas Tech University, told The Sun Online that the footage is “not the portrait of a healthy Putin”.

“It‘s an astonishingly weakened Putin compared to the man we observed even a few years ago,” he said.

“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.”

In recent months, Mr Putin has been dogged by claims of his failing health which has been fuelled by footage of his bloated face, slouching posture, and constant gripping for support.

Mr Putin meets with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Mr Putin’s health appears to be in decline.

And the resurfaced clip will do little to dampen the rumours about his potential illness, amid rumours he is battling Parkinson’s, dementia or cancer.

On Sunday night, Mr Putin appeared less bloated than in recent weeks as he stood unaided during an Orthodox Easter service in Moscow.

Brief TV footage showed little obvious sign of the telltale tremors often associated with Parkinson‘s.

However, viewers saw the ageing president appearing to shift uncomfortably, sticking out his tongue and chewing his lips.

He was also seen looking up to the ceiling and down at the floor during a mass led by Patriarch Kirill, who had supported his invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin poses with figure skater Kamila Valieva during an awards ceremony. Picture: AFP

At one point Mr Putin was seen crossing himself slowly, appearing to take great care to control the movement.

According to Reuters, he did not speak other than to join in the congregation with the response, “Truly he is risen”.

Only two days later, the 69-year-old’s face appeared visibly bloated at an awards ceremony for the county’s Beijing Olympians on Tuesday.

While at the awards ceremony, Mr Putin claimed that the Russian and Belarusian Paralympians, who were removed from the Beijing Paralympic Games after Russia invaded Ukraine, were subjected to discrimination based on nationality.

“The suspension of athletes from Russia and Belarus not only directly violated the fundamental principles of sport but their most basic human rights were … openly, cynically violated,” he said.

But while speculation continues to mount over the leader’s health, Kremlin officials have always denied there is anything wrong with Mr Putin, who turns 70 in October.

Originally published as Video of ‘unsteady’ Vladimir Putin fuels rumours about secret ailing health