Russian President Vladimir Putin was seen walking with difficulty upon his arrival for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today, according to critics. Putin’s right leg appeared stiff or in pain as he walked in platform shoes to greet Xi on the red carpet. Reports suggest Putin wore these shoes to match Xi’s height, who is believed to be around 5ft11, whereas Putin is 5ft7.
Ukrainian sources quickly ridiculed Putin based on footage from the official welcome at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, with one Ukrainian channel referring to him as “the orc” struggling to walk. Another observer described Putin’s greeting with Xi as awkward, noting his shuffling gait. Speculation even arose whether Putin was using an exoskeleton for support.
Photographs of Putin have frequently shown him wearing shoes with significantly thicker heels, potentially adding up to 3 inches to his height.