‘Astonishingly weakened’ Putin fidgets manically in video – as expert claims he’s suffering from ‘chemo brain’

VLADIMIR Putin appeared fidgety and twitchy in his latest video appearance, amid fierce rumours about the Russian president's health.

In a meeting with one of his allies, the 69-year-old slouched over and tightly gripped the arm of his chair, following speculation that he is suffering from cancer.

Russian TV filmed Putin in a meeting in Moscow with Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon.

In the clip, he can be seen continually tapping his feet while gripping the arm of his chair with his right hand.

He kept his left hand in his lap as he moved his feet erratically during the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) at the Kremlin.

In his talks, Putin called for closer ties between Russia and its Central Asian neighbours and discussed security in the region.

It follows claims that Putin's chaotic invasion of Ukraine could be due to his receiving chemotherapy.

An oncologist has alleged that Putin may be suffering from "chemo brain", a cancer-related cognitive impairment brought on by treatment.

Individuals suffering from chemo brain can make "crazy" decisions without thinking them through.

Although the Kremlin insists that Putin is perfectly healthy, many have claimed that Russia's leader has looked increasingly unwell in recent months.

His face has seemed "puffy" or bloated, which an oncologist argued could be a result of chemotherapy drugs or steroids.

Speaking to the Mirror, the oncologist said about chemo brain: "For some it's simply knocking into things, being a bit clumsier and forgetting names, places and faces.

"But in others, it can seriously affect executive functions, like making plans for the future, multi-tasking and thinking about the consequences before doing something major."

They added that Putin's puffy face could point to water retention caused by steroids and chemotherapy drugs, and said he appeared to be struggling to balance and losing focus in recent appearances, both symptoms of chemo brain.

It follows claims that stricken Putin is due to have cancer surgery any day now, and is prepared to use body doubles for public appearances to hide the health crisis from the public.

The posts on the anti-Kremlin Telegram channel General SVR alleged that the bizarre use of lookalikes would keep up appearances that Putin remains in control of Russia.

It is claimed that canned footage has been made of Putin's meetings and signing of decrees in a "cover-up" to make it seem as if he is working.

"The president's movements, if necessary, will be imitated by one of the two lookalikes," the post read. "The possibility of a lookalike walking in public has been prepared. Everything is basically ready."

Meanwhile, an insider has alleged Putin is "very ill with blood cancer" in a secretly-recorded clip.

In the recording reportedly from March, an oligarch close to the Russian president also slams mad Vlad for the disastrous war in Ukraine.

"He [Putin] absolutely ruined Russia's economy, Ukraine's economy, and many other economies," he said.

"The problem is with his head... One crazy guy can turn the world upside down."

On Friday, Putin appeared in a virtual briefing with his security council, sparking concerns over his horribly bloated face.

So bizarre was the footage that there were even claims the footage had been manipulated to artificially attach his head to his body.

Last week, Ukraine's spy chief said a coup to remove "cancer-stricken" Putin from power was already underway and insisted he will be gone by the end of the year.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov, 36, said he believes mad Vlad's calamitous war will hit "breaking point" by the summer, triggering a palace coup.

"The breaking point will be in the second part of August," he told Sky News.

"Most of the active combat actions will have finished by the end of this year."

He added: "It will eventually lead to the change of leadership of the Russian Federation.

"This process has already been launched and they are moving into that way."