Jakarta –
Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, mocked Western leaders for making fun of his shirtless photo. Putin said it would be “disgusting” to see Boris Johnson and other G7 leaders naked.
The mockery of Putin occurred when the leaders of the G7 member countries gathered in Germany earlier this week.
They joked about photos of a shirtless Putin riding a horse, carrying a hunting rifle, and even fishing.
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his fellow G7 leaders that they should take off their shirts to “show that we are tougher than Putin”.
Boris Johnson also called on leaders to “show chest muscles”, while Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, suggested that people “go bare-chested on horseback”.
When asked what he thought about the comments, Putin replied: “I don’t know if they want to be naked from the waist up or from the waist down, but either way I think it would be disgusting.”
Referring to the words of Russian writer Alexander Pushkin, Putin said: “You can be smart and think about the beauty of your nails.”
“I clearly agree with this: everything in a person must develop in harmony, both body and soul.
“But for everything to be in sync, you have to stop drinking alcohol and other bad habits and then train, exercise.”
“The colleagues you mentioned, I know them personally we weren’t on the best of terms in our relationship, this is understandable.
“After all, they are all leaders, which means they have character. And if they want to, they will obviously make the desired progress.
“But you also have to take care of yourself. And the fact that they’re talking about it, that’s fine, I’ll flatter them for this,” he added.
When Boris Johnson was briefed on Putin’s response at a NATO press conference on Thursday (30/6), he did not respond directly. Johnson referred to how Western countries share a common stance on the invasion of Ukraine.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is photographed shirtless fishing in Siberia. (Getty Images)
‘Toxic masculinity’
Putin was also asked about Boris Johnson’s remarks this week.
In an interview with German television station ZDF, the British PM said the “crazy, macho” invasion of Ukraine was “a perfect example of toxic masculinity”. He also called for “more women to occupy positions of power”.
In response to the comments, Putin referred to the 1982 conflict between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands or Malvinas.
“I just want to remember an incident in history, when [PM Inggris] Margaret Thatcher decided to start military hostilities against Argentina over the Falkland Islands.
“So a woman decides to start a feud. Where are the Falkland Islands and where is England? And this incident was dictated by imperial ambition, none other. Confirming their imperial status.
“Having said that, I don’t think it’s a very apt metaphor to describe what’s happening now, definitely not from the current prime minister of the UK.”
The conflict over the Falkland Islands began in April 1982 and lasted for 10 weeks. The conflict began when Argentine forces invaded the Falkland Islands, a British colony in the waters of the south Atlantic.
Argentina claims to have inherited the archipelago from Spain in the 1800s and wants to take over.
Britain, which ruled the islands for 150 years, sent armed forces by sea to defend them. Argentine troops surrendered on June 14, 1982.
(it/it)
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