A “crazy macho invasion”.
This is what Boris Johnson says about Putin’s war in Ukraine.
“If you want a perfect example of toxic masculinity, that’s what he does in Ukraine,” said the British Prime Minister.
For the past three days, the G7 countries have met in Germany.
Among other things, they made a promise to increase the economic and political pressure on Putin and Russia.
After the meeting, Boris Johnson addressed the gender of the Russian president as a contributing factor to the war in Ukraine.
– If Putin was a woman, which he obviously is not, but if he was, I really do not think he would have started a crazy, macho-invasion war and violence in the way he did, he says to the German TV channel ZDF.
At the same time, he called for “more women in positions of power”.
Asked about the statement, Johnson’s official spokesman said “there is no intentional policy to mock Putin in public”, reports BBC.
“The British public expects leaders to be harsh on anyone who kills innocent civilians on a daily basis,” the spokesman said.
Putin said: “Show them our stomachs”
The statement comes after the G7 countries earlier this week driven by the “macho image” of Putin that often appears in the media.
When the leaders sat down for the first meeting, Johnson asked if they would take off their jackets.
– We must all show that we are tougher than Putin, he said according to the BBC and suggested that they should “show the stomachs”, which was met with laughter from some of the colleagues.
The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau suggested that they take a ride with a bare torso, as a wink to the well-known pictures of Putin where he does just that.
– Oh yes, riding is the best there is, added European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.