Hutchings said: ‘Putin remains as fluent and articulate as he ever has been. He has this annual meeting with the press,and he answers questions sometimes for six hours. 

‘One would struggle to find evidence of Putin’s mental ability failing,except that over a period of time,he has become more paranoid and ever more imprisoned in his own world view and propaganda,and that is distorting his judgement.’

While analysts outside Russia can freely zoom in on Putin’s possible health woes,these reports will never be widely circulated in the country,where the Kremlin keeps a tight control over media and the internet.

Putin’s face was difficult to read when he reached the Chinese president,who is taller than his Russian counterpart (Picture: Getty Images Asia Pacific)

However,Putin’s popularity at home is on the decline,driven by a change in attitudes towards the war in Ukraine and Putin’s failure to progress it,and a slowing economy,the professor said.

‘The overall sense is that Putin’s image is tarnished,but not because of a physical issue but because of the problems with the economy and failure to realise his goals in Ukraine,’ he added.

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