At a gathering in Germany on Sunday that was dominated by the Russian President’s invasion of Ukraine, G7 leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations made fun of the macho persona of their absent rival Vladimir Putin.
G7 leaders talked about actions to further isolate Russia
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson questioned whether the besuited leaders should remove their coats or even further undress as they sat down for their first meeting of the three-day G7 summit in the steamy Bavarian Alps.
“We all have to show that we`re tougher than Putin,” Johnson said, to laughter from some of his colleagues.
“Bare-chested horseback riding,” shot back Canada`s Justin Trudeau.
“Oh yes,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Horseback riding is the best.”
In photos published by Russian official media, Putin, who values his athletic appearance, has been seen multiple times without a shirt on, including in a series of images in which he is shown riding a brown horse while sporting wraparound sunglasses, a gold chain, and army-style pants.
The G7 leaders talked about actions to further isolate Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in hundreds of fatalities and the eviction of millions of people from their homes.
United States, Britain, Canada, and Japan all announced plans to forbid the import of Russian gold. France, Italy, and Germany are also members of the G7.
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