Vladimir Putin appears to struggle through meeting, sparking new ill health rumours

Footage appearing to show a lethargic Russian President Vladimir Putin splutter through a meeting has sparked fresh rumours about his health.

Vladimir Putin appeared to retch and splutter through a recent televised meeting – sparking fresh fears for his health after claims he’s being treated for cancer.

The Russian President’s face looked bloated as he gripped the table in front of him during talks with Sergey Chemezov, head of state-owned defence giant Rostec, The Sun reports.

Mr Putin, 69, sat opposite Mr Chemezov – an ally since their KGB days in the 1980s – amid rumours the Russian leader is being treated for cancer.

He seemed to retch several times and struggle to speak throughout the clip released by Russian state TV.

It is the latest appearance by Mr Putin to spark speculation about his health since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin insiders have claimed that he may have cancer, which could explain his recent bloated appearance and erratic behaviour.

Vladimir Putin appeared bloated and slumped in his latest TV appearance. Picture: Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP

Yesterday, it was reported that Mr Putin had emergency surgery to drain fluid from his abdomen.

The Russian President was seen hosting a virtual meeting of the country’s security council on Friday, which also sparked a number of comments about his bizarre appearance.

An anti-Putin channel on the messaging app General SVR, which is reportedly run by a Kremlin insider, shared the allegations about Russia’s leader on Tuesday.

In the post, it insisted: “Vladimir Putin did not hold this meeting in real-time.

“The introduction was prerecorded and the closed part was played using computer graphics and Deepfake technology to create the illusion of Putin’s presence,” it said.

Explaining the reason for Mr Putin’s absence on Friday, it added: “On the night of Thursday, May 12 to Friday, May 13, Putin underwent a surgical procedure to remove fluid from his abdomen.”

If true, it isn’t known what the procedure may have been a treatment for.

The Russian President appeared to struggle throughout the appearance.

The abdomen naturally contains peritoneal fluid, but it can build up excessively as a result of certain conditions.

These include cancer, cirrhosis, infection or inflammation.

Last week, it was reported that Mr Putin is “very ill with blood cancer,” according to a Russian oligarch.

The business leader who was secretly caught in an audio recording slammed the Russian President.

“He [Putin] absolutely ruined Russia’s economy, Ukraine’s economy and many other economies – ruined absolutely.

“The problem is with his head … One crazy guy can turn the world upside down.”

In his TV appearance on Tuesday, Mr Putin appeared fidgety and twitchy, slouching over as he gripped the arm of his chair.

It follows claims that his chaotic invasion of Ukraine could be due to his receiving chemotherapy.

An oncologist has alleged that Mr Putin may be suffering from “chemo brain”, a cancer-related cognitive impairment brought on by treatment.

Individuals suffering from chemo brain can make “crazy” decisions without thinking them through.

Although the Kremlin insists that Mr Putin is perfectly healthy, many have claimed the Russia’s leader has looked increasingly unwell in recent months.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on the development of the oil industry via a video link in Moscow. Picture: Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/AFP

Putin’s fighter jet

In the meeting with Mr Chemezov, the Rostec boss announced the upgrading of Mr Putin’s new fighter jet.

Russia’s new Tu-160M, due to be finally launched in 2027, is reportedly an improvement on the Tu-160 and was first announced in 2015.

It will include a new Kuznetsov NK-32 engine, the Russian defence chief said.

“The heavy upgrade of the Tu-160M missile-carrying bomber with the NK-32 engine has been completed,” he said. “We have actually created a new aircraft.”

Russia’s upgraded Tu-160M will only retain the external appearance of the original Tu-160.

“Both the engine and the on-board equipment are new and all of the assemblies have been replaced,” Mr Chemezov said.

Serial production will begin in 2027, he said, adding that at the moment, only a prototype version has been created.

In March, just weeks after the invasion of Ukraine, Mr Chemezov’s $210 million superyacht Valerie was seized in Spain as part of sanctions against Mr Putin’s regime and Russian oligarchs.

The luxury vessel, which was used by Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez last year for a romantic getaway, has been temporarily seized in Barcelona.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on La Sexta television: “Today we seized – the technical term is provisionally immobilised – a yacht belonging to one of the principal oligarchs.

“We are talking about a yacht that we estimate is worth $140 million.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission