Vladimir Putin’s not losing any sleep over the Ukraine conflict.
The Russian president appeared to doze off during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics Friday as Ukraine’s national team marched through the stadium.
The world leader was caught on camera slumped in his chair with his eyes closed as the athletes were introduced and their national anthem blared, according to the UK Independent.
Putin’s eyes then flitted open and he was up and at ‘em by the time the Russian Olympic Committee team entered Beijing’s National Stadium, standing to salute them.
The president’s ill-timed snooze came amid tense relations between Russia and Ukraine after Putin placed more than 100,000 troops on the nation’s border.
Images of the notoriously shrewd politician’s shut-eye sparked speculation on Twitter later Friday that he “faked” the nap as a slight to the rival country.
Flag bearers Oleksandr Abramenko and Oleksandra Nazarova of Team Ukraine carry their flag during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Putin was wide awake by the time the Russian athletes were introduced.AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
Putin was at the winter games despite Russia’s four-year ban from the Olympics in 2019 due to widespread doping violations and a state-sanctioned cover-up.
The ban forbids Russian athletes from competing under their flag or hearing their national anthem played at the games but allows them to participate as the Russian Olympic Committee.
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