Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked speculation about Russian leader Vladimir Putin's health by claiming he "doesn’t have too much time left," as mystery deepens over the 73-year-old's whereabouts following more than a week out of the public eye.
Putin's last confirmed public appearance was on February 5, after which he has not been seen in person. Russian state media has aired footage of the Kremlin leader meeting with officials in recent days, but these clips are widely believed to be pre-recorded, intended to conceal his absence.
The reasons behind Putin's disappearance remain unclear, with speculation centering on potential health issues or other undisclosed matters. This pattern echoes previous instances where the Kremlin has allowed the Russian president to vanish periodically, often linked to secret medical treatments.
Speaking to Politico at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky, 48, highlighted the age difference between himself and Putin, stating, "I'm younger than Putin…"
The audience burst into laughter, prompting Zelensky to elaborate: "No, no, believe me this is important. He doesn’t have too much time, you know. Not too much time. He has, God bless, not too much time."
Zelensky went on to lambast Putin as a "slave to war," drawing a stark parallel between Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the 1938 Munich Agreement, which he invoked to underscore the dangers of appeasement.
The Ukrainian leader's remarks come amid a period of relative silence from the Kremlin, amplifying questions about Putin's condition and fueling international intrigue over the Russian president's sudden retreat from view.
