Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev cut a bored figure during Vladimir Putin’s state-of-the-nation address on Tuesday, appearing to fall asleep.
The staunch Putin ally appeared to be pictured dozing off in a moment that is now circulating on social media.
He is seen sitting among an audience of state officials, lawmakers and soldiers as Putin delivers his delayed speech.
American political commentator Keith Olbermann took to Twitter to mock Medvedev, saying: “Dmitry Medvedev, the Putin flunky and ex-Russian president who six weeks ago predicted war between Germany and France, and Elon Musk becoming president of the US, has fallen asleep during Putin's big speech this morning.”
GB News has not verified the images which were circulating.
The Russian president took to the stage to deliver his state of the union address where he unleashed a tirade at the West.
In a warning to the United States, Putin said the country was stoking the war into a global conflict, before announcing Russia was suspending participation in the New START Treaty, the last major arms control treaty between Moscow and Washington.
Signed by then-US President Barack Obama and Medvedev in 2010, the treaty caps the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy. It was due to expire in 2026.
Vladimir Putin launched a tirade against the West in his state of the union speech
Image: Reuters
"I am forced to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty," said Putin.
The Russian leader said, without citing evidence, that some people in Washington were thinking about resuming nuclear testing. Russia's defence ministry and nuclear corporation should therefore be ready to test Russian nuclear weapons if necessary, he said.
"Of course, we will not do this first. But if the United States conducts tests, then we will. No one should have dangerous illusions that global strategic parity can be destroyed," Putin said.
"A week ago, I signed a decree on putting new ground-based strategic systems on combat duty. Are they going to stick their nose in there too, or what?"
Putin spoke for an hour and 45 minutes below a large emblem bearing the two-headed eagle of Russia, while flanked by eight tricolour Russian flags.
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The Russian president used the speech to further commit to the war in Ukraine, vowing to continue until his aims are achieved.
He also looked to justify the war, saying it had been forced upon Russia.
"The people of Ukraine have become the hostage of the Kyiv regime and its Western overlords, who have effectively occupied this country in the political, military and economic sense," Putin said.
"They intend to transform a local conflict into a phase of global confrontation. This is exactly how we understand it all and we will react accordingly, because in this case we are talking about the existence of our country."
