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Vladimir Putin was sworn in for a fifth term as Russian leader in the opulent surroundings of the gilded Grand Kremlin Palace and a body language expert has said he showed three telling signs
Vladimir Putin went “full peacock” as he showed three telling signals during his inauguration, said a body language told the Mirror.
The Russian leader has begun his fifth term at a glittering Kremlin ceremony, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands. In front of a large gathering of guests handpicked for the occasion inside the gilded Grand Kremlin Palace, Putin placed his hand on the Russian Constitution and vowed to defend it.
And from his military stance to his religious expression and his speech, body language expert Judi James has found worrying behaviour from Putin whose antagonism with the West ratcheted up further with the announcement he would start nuclear drills in the last few days.
“In a ceremony that at times made our own Coronation of Charles look low-key, Putin was seen in three key body language states and none of them good,” Judi told The Mirror. “There was the military version, marching down long halls with a strong stride and his signature left arm swinging while the right hung static at his side. At times during his walkabout, he did appear to be smiling and jovial as though fully appreciating this lavish ceremony.
“During the religious part of the ceremony he adopted an expression of possible humility, with his head cocked in a partial gesture of lowered status, performing some gentle nods of acknowledgement while his eyes seemed to gleam, perhaps with building tears. There was no humility being signalled from his posture here though, which was in full peacock mode with his feet splayed and his arms held stiffly from his sides to suggest physical power.
“His speech began slightly subdued and he lifted his notes in an uncharacteristic gesture but he slowly inflated into a state of what looked like very familiar aggressive arousal. His cheeks pulled into a sneer and his mouth into a micro-snarl as he bit at his words in a display of what looked like personal anger.
“One eyebrow rose and fell and he shifted from foot to foot in his signature bristling behaviour, his shoulders appearing to bristle with anger. When he spoke of ‘Our plans will make us stronger’ his state of aggressive arousal increased along with his blink rate. With a ‘together we will win’ his piercing eye-stare suggested authority along with the angry defiance.”
Britain’s ambassador to Moscow boycotted the inauguration in protest at the dictator’s “unprovoked, premeditated, and barbaric attack” on Ukraine, while the US will also not be represented at the event.
“The UK will not field a representative at the inauguration of President Vladimir Putin,” said a spokesman for the Foreign Office. This was due to “ Russia’s assault on Ukraine is an unprovoked, premeditated, and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state. The UK condemns the Russian government’s reprehensible actions, which are an egregious violation of international law and the UN Charter.”
On Monday, Ambassador Nigel Casey was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, according to Russian reports. He was issued with a “strong protest” over Lord Cameron’s comments indicating British long-range missiles could be used by Ukraine to strike targets on Russian territory. Britain had become “a party to the conflict”, Mr Casey was told.
This was a “serious escalation and confirmation of London’s increasing involvement in military operations on the side of Kyiv”. Russia also warned that it could use tactical nuclear weapons to defend its territory, and is staging drills imminently.