A group of G7 leaders which Joe Biden was a part of were caught mocking Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Europe over the weekend.
The leaders were all sitting down to eat when the conversation turned to what they should wear for the cameras while enjoying their lunches.
“Jackets on? Jackets off? Shall we take our clothes off?” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson jokingly asked the other leaders.
“Let’s wait for the picture,” declared Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau . The picture he was referring to includes the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union
Johnson then said, “We have to show that we’re tougher than Putin.” The meeting was primarily to discuss how the world powers should proceed with Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trudeau then jumped in again, this time poking fun at Putin too, saying, “We’re going to get the bare chested horseback riding display.”
Trudeau was referring to a famous picture put out by Vladimir Putin of himself riding around the mountains on horseback while shirtless.
Boris Johnson liked the idea, adding, “We’ve got to show them our pecs.”
“Horseback riding is the best,” declared European Union President Ursula von der Leyen.
President Joe Biden was at the G7 meeting as well, seated right next to British PM Johnson, but didn’t appear to take part in the mockery of the contentious Russian leader.
He did speak out about the Russian war during the conference, however, saying, “It’s more of their barbarism.”
Biden also spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, telling the German leader that the US will stand by them if Russia advances. “Because Putin is counting on from the beginning that NATO and the G7 would splinter. But we haven’t and we’re not going to,” he said.
The Russian war in Ukraine has gone on for months longer than expected, partially because of support from the west. Despite this, Ukraine was rejected when they requested to join NATO and are expected to lose in the long run unless Putin is removed from power or they are bolstered with more direct support from the outside. Do you think the G7 and NATO should stand up to the Russian leader or should they mind their own business?
