G-7 leaders, who are gathering to discuss increasing pressure on Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, are also targeting the Russian president’s tendency to take off his shirt.
Leaders were preparing for a group photo when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked if they should take off their jackets.
A video of the event in Germany shows him joking that “We all need to show that we are tougher than Putin.”
“We will demonstrate horseback riding with bare breasts,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“Oh, yes,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, “Riding is the best.”
Read more: Ukrainian Zelensky addresses Trudeau, other G7 leaders at German summit
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Any search for images of the Russian leader will surely find the famous photo in which he rides a horse through the Siberian desert, wearing only pants, boots and sunglasses.
The Kremlin has released a series of official photos during the years in which Putin carried a rifle, fed a horse, kept fish, swam, and relaxed by a lake – all without a shirt. There is a video of him being pulled through the water by two dolphins.
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The photos are even included in his official calendar, in which many observers consider it an attempt to sell an image of a macho, tough leader.
Putin seems indifferent to the countless memes that mock him, once noting to NBC that there are even (doctoral) images online on which he rides a bear.
1:29 Trudeau, Britain’s Johnson sends message of support to Ukraine during G-7 summit Trudeau, Britain’s Johnson sends message of support for Ukraine during G-7 summit
For his part, Trudeau has had his share of shirtless photos since he became prime minister.
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A 2016 Guardian article about him appearing shirtless and holding a surfboard at a beach wedding in British Columbia said: “Justin Trudeau’s observations without a shirt are causing something like excitement in Canada and around the world.” The article notes that the prime minister also made international headlines when a photo was released of him walking shirtless in Gatineau Park.
In July 2018, he re-entered the headlines while jogging shirtless in Toronto after meeting with Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford.
The video for Monday’s G7 event ends with Johnson jokingly, “We need to show them our breasts.”
The leaders remained fully clothed for the official photo.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
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