Macron releases boxing photos as he shapes himself as Europe’s new ‘strongman’ to take on Putin
French President Macron has released two toe-curling black-and-white photos of himself boxing after taunting Putin with threats of NATO troops in Ukraine.
The buff photos play a “Strongman of Europe” image after his recent comments about the war in Ukraine have gone further than anything said by other European leaders.
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The French leader, 46, has long been a fan of boxing and played football for an elite school in the 2000s.
It now appears he will put on an athletic display to cement his new-found combative leadership style with new official portraits.
Especially in recent weeks Macron has directly addressed the threat of war in Europe as a result of Putin’s bloodlust.
Just a few days ago, he warned that there should be “no more red lines” for France’s involvement in the brutal conflict.
And he even suggested that Paris was preparing to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine.
The French leader appears to be playing a prominent role among European leaders in the fight against Putin, as many of his contemporaries have ruled out the possibility of sending their own troops to Ukraine.
The Czech Prime Minister and Hungary have both said that sending soldiers to Ukraine is out of the question.
And French opposition leaders have also expressed concern about Macron’s dramatic statements.
Putin and his Kremlin henchmen have not responded well to the big talk, as the despot’s main leaders army chief was wheeled out to deliver a disturbing warning soon after.
Colonel General Vladimir Zarudnitsky said it boldly war in Ukraine could soon pass Europe and stoking the fear global conflict experts have warned.
The Russian tyrant is no stranger to showing off his own strength.
During his rambling “state of the nation” address in February, the aging despot warned NATO not to intervene Ukraine or face the wrath of its nuclear arsenal.
Putin, who appeared to refer to Macron’s comments at the time, said Western countries “must realize that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory.”
“All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Don’t they understand that?”
For years Putin has shared his own bizarre images hitting opponents on the back on judo mats, fishing, playing ice hockey and horse riding.
The attempts to portray an image of a threatening and undefeatable dictator have been mirrored tenfold by tyrannical leadership, despite international criticism.
Videos of him hunting bears and fishing were shared amid rumors he was paranoid and cooped up during the coronavirus pandemic.
And in a comic echo of a James Bond-style villain, Putin has even shared photos of him riding shirtless on horses, swimming in icy waters and going into the Black Sea in a submarine.
Although less serious than Putin’s recent attempts to sow fear through nuclear threats and authoritarian repression, his photos play into the image he wants to cultivate.
Marine Tondelier, leader of France’s Green Party, said Putin “clearly has no borders”, but previously called it “extremely worrying” to see Macron say France also has “no borders”.
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