Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on a conversation between G7 leaders that began with a proposal to remove their jackets from the table and ended with a discussion of a topless photo of him published several years ago.
“I don’t know how they wanted to strip to the waist or below,” Putin told reporters. “I think in both cases it would have been a disgusting sight.” The G7 leaders ridiculed the image of the Russian president as a strong man during their meeting in Germany last Sunday and joked about asking if they should only wear T-shirts or perhaps something less.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked: “Are we keeping jackets? Shall we take it off?” as they sat down at a table at Bavaria’s Elmo Castle, where German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was hosting the G7 summit. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested waiting for an official photo before stripping, but Johnson joked, “We have to show we’re stronger than Putin.” “We’re going to have a scene of a bare-chested rider riding a horse,” Trudeau said, referring to the famous 2009 photograph of Putin. For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “horse riding is the best.” without commenting on the issue of clothing.specifically. “We have to show them our muscles,” Johnson replied.
