Leaders at G7 mock bare-chested horseback rider Putin

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich nations mocked the macho picture of their absent adversary Vladimir Putin on Sunday, at a gathering in Germany dominated by the Russian President’s invasion of Ukraine.

As the besuited leaders sat down for his or her first assembly of the three-day G7 summit within the sweltering Bavarian Alps, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson requested if their jackets ought to come off – or if they need to even disrobe additional.

“We all have to show that we’re tougher than Putin,” Johnson mentioned, to laughter from a few of his colleagues.

“Bare-chested horseback riding,” shot again Canada’s Justin Trudeau.

“Oh yes,” mentioned European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Horseback riding is the best.”

Putin, who prizes his sporty picture, has been pictured shirtless a number of instances in pictures launched by Russian state media, together with one set through which he rode a brown horse whereas sporting wrap-around sun shades, a gold chain and armed forces trousers.

The G7 leaders mentioned efforts to additional isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which has killed 1000’s of individuals and pushed tens of millions from their properties. Britain, Canada, Japan and the United States introduced strikes to ban imports of Russian gold. The G7 additionally contains France, Italy and Germany