Vladimir Putin has been missing from the public eye for a week, sparking renewed questions about his health.
The absence prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at the Munich Secrutiy Conference, to remark the Russian leader, 73, did not “have too much time”.
Mr Putin has not been seen in public since delivering a speech on 5 February, with the reason for his disappearance unknown.
Russian state television has continued broadcasting footage showing Mr Putin meeting with officials, although observers suspect these recordings were made in advance.
The former KGB man seldom takes time off, yet he vanishes from sight multiple times annually without any official explanation.
These periodic disappearances have fuelled persistent rumours that Mr Putin may be receiving covert medical care.
Rumours of a serious condition, ranging from Parkinson’s to cancer, have dogged the Russian president despite the Kremlin’s insistence he remains in rude health.
In November, he was pictured clenching his “swollen and sore” hands while addressing supporters, which further fuelled speculation.
Vladimir Putin has been missing from the public eye for a week. fuelling speculation about his absence
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The apparent disappearance of Mr Putin was addressed by Mr Zelensky as he travelled to Germany.
"I'm younger than Putin," Mr Zelensky, 48, remarked, prompting laughter from the audience.
Mr Zelensky insisted the point mattered: "No, no, believe me, this is important. He doesn't have too much time, you know. Not too much time.
“He has, God bless, not too much time."
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Rumours of a serious condition, ranging from Parkinson’s to cancer, have dogged the Russian leader in recent years
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The president did not elaborate on precisely what he was referring to, leaving his comments open to interpretation amid the ongoing mystery surrounding Putin's whereabouts.
Mr Zelensky's remarks came as US President Donald Trump urged Kyiv to offer concessions, asserting that Moscow was seeking an agreement to end the conflict approaching its fifth year.
"Russia wants to make a deal and Zelensky's going to have to get moving," Mr Trump declared, adding: "Otherwise he's going to miss a great opportunity. He's going to have to move."
The Ukrainian leader pushed back firmly against this characterisation, arguing that significant compromises had already been made.
The absence prompted Volodymyr Zelensky to remark Vladimir Putin did not 'have too much time'
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"We have made a lot of compromises," Mr Zelensky responded, adding: "Putin and his friends, they are not in prison. This is the biggest compromise the world made already."
Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine surrender territory in the Donbas region, land that Russian forces have been unable to capture militarily throughout the war.
Ukraine has refused to accept these territorial demands ahead of fresh peace negotiations scheduled to take place in Geneva next week.
The diplomatic manoeuvring continues against a backdrop of ongoing violence, with Russian forces attacking Ukraine overnight with a barrage of drone and missile strikes.
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