Vladimir Putin has widespread speculation over his health during recent months.

07:37, Wed, May 20, 2026 Updated: 09:56, Wed, May 20, 2026

CHINA-RUSSIA-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY

Vladimir Putin was widely mocked after arriving in China (Image: Getty)

Vladimir Putin has been brutally mocked after he appeared to walk awkwardly as he arrived for his summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing today. His right leg seemed stiff or painful as he strode in his platform shoes onto the red carpet to meet China's leader.

The Russian President's health has come under intense scrutiny over recent months, and Ukrainian sources immediately mocked him over the footage from the official welcome at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square. "The orc can barely walk," said one Ukrainian channel using a derogatory word for Russians. One commenter asked: "Is he using an exoskeleton?"

Putin appeared to be walking awkwardly

Putin appeared to be walking awkwardly (Image: East2West News)

Another observer said: “Putin shuffles forward with an awkward stooped gait as he greets Xi in Beijing.” Putin uses adapted shoes to increase his 5ft 7in height compared to Xi, who is believed to be 5ft 11in.

There were earlier awkward moments exiting his Flying Kremlin presidential Ilyushin - Il-96-300PU - as Putin, 73, walked with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the politburo since 2022.

Some overseers believed Putin received a superior welcome than Donald Trump last week when he was met by vice-president Han Zheng, seen as having little sway and no longer in the politburo.

Xi stressed that the war in the Middle East must be stopped to ensure stability of global energy supplies and international trade.

Putin walking with Xi Jinping

One Ukrainian source said: 'The orc can barely walk' (Image: East2West News)

Putin is keen to insert himself in the peace process by taking Iranian enriched uranium - which the US has not so far agreed to.

Alexei Likhachev, head of Rosatom, Russia’s Atomiс Energy Corporation and part of Putin’s entourage in China, claimed: "Iran has once again made a statement that it has never sought and will not seek to create nuclear weapons.

"The Americans have once again made a statement that they will never allow the creation of nuclear weapons in Iran.

"Therefore, it would be nice against this backdrop to direct highly enriched uranium to the peaceful sphere, which [Russia] can do easily and with pleasure."