Macron releases toe curling buff boxing pics as he shapes himself into the new ‘strongman of Europe’ taking on Putin

FRENCH president Macron has released two toe curling black and white snaps of him boxing after taunting Putin with threats of Nato troops in Ukraine.

The buff pics play into a 'Strongman of Europe' image after his recent comments on the Ukraine War have gone beyond anything said by fellow European leaders.

The French leader, 46, has long been a fan of boxing and used to play football for an elite school in the 2000s.

He now looks to be putting on an athletic display to shore up his new-found combative leadership style with new official portraits.

In previous weeks particularly, Macron has directly called out the threat of war in Europe as a result of Putin's blood thirst.

Just days ago he warned there should be "no more red lines" for France's involvement in the brutal conflict.

And he even suggested Paris was readying to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine.

The French leader appears to be carving out a stand-out role among Europe's leaders in taking on Putin as many of his contemporaries have ruled out the near possibility of sending their own troops to Ukraine.

The Czech PM and Hungary have both said sending soldiers to Ukraine is out of the question.

And French opposition leaders have also expressed concerns at Macron's dramatic statements.

Putin and his Kremlin cronies have not responded well to the big talk, as the despot's primary army chief was wheeled out to issue a disturbing warning soon after.

Colonel-General Vladimir Zarudnitsky said the brutal war in Ukraine could soon spill over into Europe and ignite the terrifying global conflict experts have warned about.

The Russian tyrant is no stranger to putting on his own displays of strength.

During his rambling "state of the nation" speech in February, the ageing despot warned Nato not to intervene in Ukraine or face the wrath of his nuclear arsenal.

Putin, appearing to reference Macrons comments at the time, said Western nations "must realise we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory."

"All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilisation. Don't they get that?"

For years Putin has shared his own bizarre images slamming opponents on their back on Judo mats, fishing, playing ice hockey and riding horses.

The efforts to paint a picture of a threatening and unbeatable dictator have been mirrored ten fold by tyrannical leadership in the face of international criticism.

Videos of him hunting bears and fishing were shared amid rumours that he was paranoid and shut away during the Coronavirus pandemic.

And in a comical echo of a James Bond-style villain, Putin has even shared snaps of him riding horses shirtless, swimming in freezing waters and heading into the black sea in a submersible.

While less serious than Putin's recent attempts at fear mongering through nuclear threats and authoritarian oppression - his snaps play into the image he wants to cultivate.

Marine Tondelier, leader of France's Green Party, said Putin "obviously has no limits" but has previously called it "extremely worrying" to see Macron saying France has "no limits" either.