Putin ‘is a lunatic with small man syndrome’

VLADIMIR Putin is a ‘lunatic’ with ‘small man syndrome’, the Defence Secretary declared yesterday.

Ben Wallace said the Russian leader has suffered the loss of 25,000 troops and is having to use ancient ammunition as his invasion of Ukraine falters.

As he attended a Nato summit in Madrid, the minister said he does not believe Russia is winning the war as it fails to achieve any of its key objectives.

And he joined the Prime Minister in mocking the Kremlin leader.

Mr Wallace told LBC Radio: ‘I certainly think President Putin’s view of himself and the world is a small man syndrome, macho view... I think he’s certainly got it in spades.’ He also mocked Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, saying: ‘She’s a lunatic like he is.’

Earlier Boris Johnson told German TV that Putin would not have started the

‘Perfect example of toxic masculinity’

‘crazy, macho’ war if he were a woman. He said to ZDF: ‘If you want a perfect example of toxic masculinity, it’s what he’s doing in Ukraine.’ He made the comments arguing for ‘more women in positions of power’.

Mr Johnson yesterday said he will not boycott a meeting of G20 leaders this year if ‘pariah’ Putin attends.

The Prime Minister argued it was important to win over member countries that have failed to take a strong stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He said: ‘If you vacate something like the G20 you risk just handing the propaganda opportunity to others.’

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said it is ‘important to tell [Putin] to his face what we think of him’.

Indonesia will host a G20 summit of world leaders in Bali in November. The country’s president Joko Widodo has invited both the Russian leader and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky to attend.