Vladimir Putin put on a “chilling” display as he smirked and showed his “bizarrely comedic side” at an official event, according to a body language expert.
Judi James said the Russian despot appeared to be playing the role of the “celebrating victor” during a Q&A session at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Putin seemed blissfully detached from the chaos he had unleashed in Ukraine as he reclined in his seat, answering questions from young entrepreneurs and specialists.
The 69-year-old abandoned his original excuse for the war as a matter of self-defence and instead justified it by claiming Ukraine was rightfully Russian.
The warmonger even compared himself to the 18th century Russian autocrat Peter the Great, who seized Swedish territory in the Northern War.
Analysing Putin’s behaviour, Ms James said: “Slumping back in his armchair in a diagonal splay, Putin displays his bizarrely comedic side here.
“(He is) clutching the mic in one hand like a stand-up and using body language that is close to showboating as he speaks to an audience of young entrepreneurs.
“He is clearly enjoying himself and clearly relishing the opportunity to appear as a jovial entertainer as well as the invader of Ukraine, talking non-stop and apparently without a script.
“His expression looks smug and his body language is slumped but also animated.
“For a man who is usually immaculately dressed his pose has left his tie askew and his shirt seems to be gaping between the buttons.
“At one point he appears aware of the way his belly is in one direction and his tie in another, pulling his tie back over the front of his shirt even though he seems perfectly comfortable with this sign of disruption.
“This style of smugness combined with humour and a laid-back pose seems to suggest a man who finds irony or sarcasm in the current global state of tension and threat.”
Ms James said Putin’s “warmth and humour” appeared “chilling” given the chaos he had unleashed in the world.
She added: “It looks like an attempt to diminish by sneering and laughing and perhaps then to appear in the role of the celebrating victor without a care in the world.
“He works the audience, raising his brows and even laughing out loud as he uses small nods of his head in a rotation to engage the young people in front of him. His pose of casual bonhomie looks completely at odds with some of his comments.
“His left hand and arm are the ones doing the gesticulation, patting and scything through the air in a way that might put paid to the speculation over his dangling left arm during other appearances.
“His face is also incredibly mobile here, which might also suggest a lack of Botox, which is another theory.
“His display of good humour plays against the current stories of his health, although the body slump does look counter-intuitive.
“If this is a contrived act it is a very well-performed one because he really does seem to be enjoying himself, with the grins and the show-boating increasing as he warms to his theme and gathers polite smiles from his audience.”