Russian President Vladimir Putin has been seen complaining to Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko about his lack of sleep, Zvezda television channel reported Wednesday.
Lukashenko enquired as to the Russian president's well-being during a meeting in the country's capital of Minsk.
“Everything is fine,” Putin said. “But I don't get much sleep. The day before yesterday I slept for four hours; today for five hours.”
Lukashenko could be heard to reply, “That's too bad.”
The Russian president is among good company if he is struggling to get some shut-eye, with many world leaders reportedly sleeping for less than eight hours a night. Britain’s longest serving Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was renowned for only sleeping four hour of sleep each night, while current American President Barack Obama only sleeps for six hours each night, Vanity Fair reported in 2012.
Putin arrived in Minsk on Wednesday. The president plans to hold negotiations with his Belarussian counterpart on issues such as Russian gas supplies to the country.
