There Is No Evidence Of Intelligence About Disease, CIA Director Says Russian President Vladimir Putin's Condition Is Very Healthy

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Wikimedia Commons / Presidential Press and Information Office Mikhail Klimentyev via TASS)

JAKARTA - Director of Central Intelligence (CIA) of the United States William Burns said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's condition so far is healthy, there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

Speculation is circulating and increasing in the media and unconfirmed, President Putin who will turn 70 this year, may suffer from poor health, possibly cancer.

However, William Burns said there was no evidence to suggest this, joking that he appeared 'very healthy'. His comments came as the US announced it would provide Ukraine with more long-range weapons.

"There's been a lot of rumors about President Putin's health and as far as we know he's very healthy," Burns said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.

However, Burns added that this was not a formal intelligence assessment. Burns is known to have served as the US Ambassador to Moscow. He said he had followed and interacted with President Putin for more than two decades.

President Putin is a "strong believer in control, intimidation, and revenge" and these traits have hardened over the past decade as his circle of advisers has shrunk, the CIA chief said.

"He believes that his destiny as Russia's leader is to restore Russia as a great power. He believes the key to doing that is to re-create the sphere of influence within Russia and he cannot do that without controlling Ukraine," Burns explained.

Citing Politico, given his position, Burns' comments could dampen hopes among Putin's foes that Russia's death is imminent, as well as speculation over his health during the war in Ukraine.

Burns spoke a day after Putin visited Iran, where he met Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It is known that this is a rare appearance of President Putin outside the former Soviet Union since the invasion, with the majority in Russia due to the coronavirus pandemic.