Celebrity | Steven Seagal Steven Seagal, Putin Latest Bizarre BFFs Action star helping Russian prez promote physical fitness plan By Evann Gastaldo Posted Mar 14, 2013 8:12 AM CDT Copied Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Steven Seagal, left, speak to an athlete as they visit a new sports arena in Moscow, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service) How convenient: New BFFs Kim Jong Un and Dennis Rodman are probably looking for another pair to vacation with, and now they have one ... because Vladimir Putin and Steven Seagal have a similar world leader-washed-up celebrity friendship going on. Putin wants to reinstate a Stalin-era national physical fitness program, and used Seagal to help promote the idea yesterday, Reuters reports. Speaking at a martial arts school, Putin called for the revival of the mass physical education program "in a new, modern format." Seagal, who is apparently popular in Russia, participated in what Reuters says appeared to be a choreographed stunt, pulling Putin out of a crowd of children who wanted to pose with him, bodyguard-style. The two also had lunch together, Itar-Tass reports. "Putin and Seagal have long been friends, and they regularly meet each other," a Putin rep told reporters. Writes Dan Amira at the Daily Intelligencer, "The days when a washed-up action star could visit an oppressive world leader without anyone noticing are long gone, which means it's only a matter of time before Sly Stallone goes fishing with Robert Mugabe." Read These Next Trump "never heard" that "shylocks" is offensive. At least 13 people are dead in Texas flooding. Doctor left her Alaskan cruise and never returned. He was caught working for 4 startups at once. Report an error