Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remarks about what he described as slanders against Russia. "You see for yourself what our president looks like, and those who work next to him hardly catch up with him," he said.
The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected speculation that Putin, who has led Russia since 1999, was ill. He has yet to announce whether he will run for re-election in the 2024 presidential election, which is expected to be held within the next few years. He said: "You can only envy him for his energy, God willing"