Vladimir Putin says Western leaders would look “disgusting” if they were to undress “above or below the waist”.

The Russian leader hit back after G7 leaders poked fun at his liking of bare-chested photo ops during the summit. 

As they sat down for talks, Boris Johnson joked that G7 leaders could take their clothes off to “show that we’re tougher than Putin” amid tensions over Moscow’s military action in Ukraine.

Leaders should “show them our pecs”, he said.

Canada’s Justin Trudeau joined in, saying they should put on a “bare-chested horseback riding display” – one of the Russian leader’s widely publicised athletic adventures.

“Oh yes,” added European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Horseback riding is the best.”

On a visit to Turkmenistan, Mr Putin was asked about Western leaders joking about him.

He retorted that, unlike him, Western leaders abuse alcohol and don’t do any exercise.

“I don’t know how they wanted to get undressed, above or below the waist,” he said. “But I think it would be a disgusting sight in any case.”

He noted that to look good “it’s necessary to stop abusing alcohol and other bad habits, do physical exercise and take part in sports”.