Vladimir Putin's latest speech leaves him humiliated: 'His discomfort was so obvious'

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently met Moscow's 17 new foreign ambassadors,including Lynne Tracy, the United States' new diplomat, and Roland Galharague, the European Union's envoy, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in the capital.

Last week, the Kremlin held an awards ceremony for the ambassadors where they accepted their credentials. Putin was the main speaker, delivering 'one of his trademark rambling sessions', according to Mirror.

A video of the event went viral on social media, showing Putin looking out to his silent audience after his speech, seemingly waiting for applause. And social media users were quick to make fun of the Russian President.

Vladimir Putin mocked online

Twitter user @AstroTerry described the moment as simply 'awkward'. @ConstancePeck9 tweeted:

He needs someone to tell him the only applause he’ll be getting is when he goes to The Hague.

Similarly, @ARoccsten wrote: 'Just what a war criminal should expect'. @sling438 tweeted, seemingly referring to the number of Russian elites who have died mysteriously after allegedly falling or jumping from building windows:

Breakfast will be served to all attendees on the 50th floor tomorrow morning. Tea is included.

While @Kezza51454253 wrote:

I enjoyed watching this. His discomfort was so obvious

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Vladimir Putin's social distancing

Due to 'sanitary restrictions', the head of the Kremlin spoke from the other side of the gilded Alexander Hall in the Grand Palace - approximately 60 feet away from his guests.

The scene was similar to his frequent use of a long table when meeting with certain leaders. It is speculated that Putin does this as a power play. According to Forbes, Putin chooses who to distance from himself for political reasons and to send a certain kind of message.

While Putin insists the distance at the ceremony was due to coronavirus concerns, he has been in close proximity with numerous people recently, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and locals during a spontaneous visit to the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol in Ukraine.

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Putin refuses to meet US and EU ambassadors

The head of the Kremlin also refused to meet the new delegates of the US, Lynne Tracy, and the EU, Roland Galharague, in person. He said:

We won’t be able to talk in person, but in the course of your work, I’m sure this opportunity will come up again and again.

However, Putin did address them directly. He told Tracy that Washington was responsible for the 'Ukrainian crisis'. He said that relations with Washington were in a 'deep crisis' that was 'based on fundamentally different approaches to the formation of the modern world order'.

He also told Galharague that the EU started 'geopolitical confrontation' with Moscow.

Sources used:

Mirror: 'Vladimir Putin left 'waiting for applause' that never comes while hosting ambassadors'

Forbes: 'Putin's Long Tables Explained: Why He Puts Some Leaders, Including Germany’s Scholz, At An Extreme Distance'

France 24: 'Putin accuses Western spies of role in 'terror attacks' in Russia'

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