Questions continue to be raised about the state of Vladimir Putin's health after Russia issued fresh threats to Europe.
The threat comes after Poland’s former foreign minister suggested that those allied against Russian aggression in Ukraine may have legal grounds to provide deadly weapons to the Ukrainians.
In response to these comments, the Head of the State Duma, Viacheslav Volodin, wrote on his Telegram account that Poland - along with the rest of Europe - would “cease to exist” if Russia is threatened.
Read More: Vladimir Putin's Russia warns Ireland and Europe about nuclear strike that would wipe continent out
People once close to Putin are claiming that he is “out of it.”
Putin’s first prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov said to AFP that never in his worst nightmares would he have thought war would be declared on Ukraine.
“I just know these people and by looking at them I saw that Putin is already out of it,” Kasyanov said.
“Not in a medical sense, but in political terms.”
Since he began the invasion of Ukraine, Putin has made a few television appearances all in varying degrees of health.
Media appearances showing the dictator shaking or tremoring has led to speculation that he may be suffering from illnesses ranging from Parkinson's disease to dementia.
Footage of Putin meeting with his defence minister on April 21 showed him gripping the edge of the table and looking deeply uncomfortable, Newsweek reported.
There have also been claims that he has been looking bloated, as if undergoing steroid treatment.
The US intelligence community seems to believe he is gravely unwell.
“Putin is definitely sick,” an official from the office of the Director of National Intelligence reported to Newsweek, while noting “whether he’s going to die soon is mere speculation.”
Putin's top spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has repeatedly denied any issues but this has not stopped more rumours from swirling.
Former MI6 Russia spy Christopher Steele also supports the theory the Russian president could be seriously ill.
Speaking to Sky News, Steele said Putin's health could be a factor in the decision to invade Ukraine.
Putin has cultivated an image of being a “man's man” being strong and at peak fitness, it has led people to believe the invasion is a last resort as a result of being terminally ill.
People have been questioning if the decision to go to war is a matter of now or never for the dictator.
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