Putin's Cancer Rapidly Progressing? Health Rumors Amplify... Russia Denies, Says "Played Hockey Over the Weekend"

"Speaking for Over 3 Hours at the Forum... Could Someone in Poor Health Do That?"

Russian President Vladimir Putin is participating in a charity ice hockey game held in Sochi last May.
[Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Amid recurring rumors about President Vladimir Putin's health issues, the Kremlin (the presidential office) dismissed the speculation by stating that "(President Putin) played hockey yesterday."

On the 21st (local time), according to the New York Post and others, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, denied rumors that President Putin was secretly battling an illness during an interview with NBC in the United States.

Spokesperson Peskov said, "President Putin played hockey yesterday afternoon," adding, "Now, think for yourself about his health condition." He also pointed out that Putin gave a long speech lasting over three hours and participated in discussions at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on the 16th (local time), saying, "Consider whether someone in poor health could really do that."

Russian President Vladimir Putin is delivering a speech at a meeting with automobile industry executives held as a side event of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on the 16th (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Since the Ukraine war, rumors about President Putin suffering from cancer, dementia, or Parkinson's disease have continuously surfaced both inside and outside Western countries. This was due to observations of him gripping tables tightly during meetings with aides or frequently twisting his left ankle awkwardly during summits with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Moreover, on the 28th of last month (local time), major foreign media reported that a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) official claimed, "President Putin's cancer is progressing rapidly," and "his survival time is only 2 to 3 years," which intensified the health rumors.

In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov unusually addressed the issue of President Putin's health to clarify. On the 29th of last month (local time), Minister Lavrov said, "(President Putin) appears before the public every day. You can see him on screen and hear everything he says," adding, "I leave it to the conscience of those spreading such rumors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.