TYRANT Vladimir Putin was left humiliated as he tried to kick off his big speech to world leaders while on mute for a toe-curling 34 seconds.
appeared rattled when his mic refused to play ball at the International Forum on Peace and Trust in Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat.
Vladimir Putin looks lost and confused as he speaks for nearly a minute without soundCredit: East2West
The dictator gestures angrily to the defective mic…Credit: East2West
…before he is saved by a stafferCredit: East2West
After a round of applause, the 73-year-old made several attempts to begin, only to realise no one could hear a word.
He stared around helplessly, clearly flustered as he waited for someone to rescue him from the embarrassing mute.
Sixteen heads of state and government, including leaders from Nato countries, watched as Putin floundered.
At last, a staffer rushed over and showed him the simple switch he needed to flick to turn his mic on.
“Thank you,” he snapped before finally launching into his remarks.
The Kremlin leader was savaged online.
One user called the 34-second fiasco: “Putin’s best speech ever.”
Azerbaijani outlet Minval said: “Putin couldn’t work his microphone, he pressed the wrong button and spoke without sound for almost a minute.”
“He got what he deserved – Putin has no business addressing a peace forum after killing hundreds of thousands in the war,” fumed a Ukrainian comment.
News outlet ChTD compared Putin’s confusion to his habit of patronising visiting African leaders by showing them how to use Kremlin headphones.
“Nothing unusual, Putin in Ashgabat spoke for half a minute without sound until they turned on the microphone button for him,” the report said.
“The same Putin who regularly shows foreign leaders how to turn on headphones with simultaneous translation, which the Kremlin propaganda loves to talk about, comparing the advanced Kremlin host with his clueless guests.”
Among those witnessing the gaffe were Nato leaders Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey and Viktor Orbán of Hungary.
Putin is on a two-day visit to Turkmenistan, where he is also set to hold talks with the leaders of Iraq and .
He even flew in his Aurus limousine to cruise the dusty streets of Ashgabat.
The despot has also pledged his support for Donald Trump nemesis in an overnight phone call.
Putin’s backing comes after troops swarmed and seized ‘Skipper’ – a Venezuelan vessel carrying crude oil to
The Kremlin revealed that he “expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people” during the call.
The tyrant also “confirmed his support for the Maduro government’s policy aimed at protecting national interests and sovereignty in the face of growing external pressure”.
The show of solidarity comes as tensions ramp up between President Trump and the Venezuelan dictator.
Trump gloated after the tanker seizure, saying: “We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large – the largest one ever seized actually.
“And other things are happening, so you’ll be seeing that later.”
Pressed on where the oil would go, Trump replied: “I assume we’re going to keep the oil.”
He said the seizure was carried out for a “very good reason”.
Putin has shown support for Venezuelan dictator Nicolas MaduroCredit: AFP
The US has recently seized a Venezuelan tanker carrying crude oilCredit: Reuters
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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