British government officials have had a field day with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday after mocking the dictator for his “small man syndrome,” while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls him “a perfect example of toxic masculinity.”
Speaking to a German broadcaster during the G7 summit, Boris Johnson contrasted him to women in power, claiming that if Putin were a woman, he would not have waged a war against Ukraine, before calling him out for his toxic masculinity, according to the BBC.
“If Putin was a woman, which he obviously isn't, but if he were, I really don't think he would've embarked on a crazy, macho war of invasion and violence in the way that he has,” he said. “If you want a perfect example of toxic masculinity, it's what he's doing in Ukraine.”
The official spokesperson of the Prime Minister, however, said that “there is not a deliberate policy” to belittle Putin in a public space, before adding: “The British public would expect leaders to be robust with someone killing innocent civilians on a daily basis.”
Johnson is not the only member of the U.K. government to belittle Putin’s masculinity or his war effort: Defense Secretary Ben Wallace derisively contrasted him to women before calling him out for his “small man syndrome,” Metro reported.
“You rarely hear the phrase small woman syndrome, you always hear small man syndrome. I think he’s certainly got it in spades,” he said. “But I think the real challenge here is the Russian system’s view that somehow some states are lesser than others, their rights don’t count.”
He also mocked Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova for her telecasts, before comparing her to Putin and calling them "lunatics."
Johnson, who has continued to rally against Putin in both the G7 summit and in the press, has been pushing for a better deal to aid Ukraine in its war effort. He has reminded all NATO members about their pledge to ensure that at least 2% of their GDP spending is aimed at defense.
“The 2% was always meant to be a floor, not a ceiling, and allies must continue to step up in this time of crisis,” he said.
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