Vladimir Putin

Putin apologizes for ‘tragic incident’ without acknowledging Azerbaijani plane was shot down

By Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a “tragic incident” following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people, but stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible.

Putin meets with Slovak Prime Minister Fico, in a rare visit to Moscow by an EU leader

By Associated Press

Fico’s views on Russia’s war on Ukraine differ sharply from most other European leaders. Slovakia's prime minister returned to power last year after his leftist party won parliamentary elections on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform.

Putin boasts of Ukraine gains, denies fall of Assad in Syria dented Russia at annual news conference

By Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press

The Russian leader sought to project strength and ease at his annual news conference and call-in show Thursday.

How will Assad’s downfall affect Russia and Putin?

By Associated Press

The Kremlin’s failure to prevent Assad’s swift downfall has exposed limits of Russia’s power and dented its international clout at a pivotal stage of its war in Ukraine.

Putin formally lowers threshold for using nuclear weapons

By Associated Press

The new doctrine allows for a potential nuclear response by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.

U.S. shift allowing Ukraine to hit Russian soil with long-range weapons draws warning from Moscow

By Illia Novikov, Samya Kullab, Associated Press

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday referred to a statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin in September, in which he said allowing Ukraine to target Russia would significantly raise the stakes in the conflict.

German Chancellor Scholz spoke to Putin for first time in 2 years to push Ukraine peace talks

By Kirsten Grieshaber, Associated Press

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin in what appeared to be the first conversation with the sitting leader of a major Western power in nearly two years.

Kremlin denies report Putin and Trump spoke about Ukraine war last week

By Associated Press

The Kremlin is rejecting reports that President Vladimir Putin spoke last week with President-elect Donald Trump about the war in Ukraine, and a spokesman for Trump refused to comment on what he called his “private calls” with world leaders.

Putin congratulates Donald Trump on his election victory in first public comments on U.S. vote

By Associated Press

The Kremlin earlier welcomed Trump’s claim that he could negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine “in 24 hours” but emphasized that it will wait for concrete policy steps.

On Ukraine’s front and in Kyiv, hope and pragmatism compete when it comes to Trump’s election

By Lori Hinnant, Yehor Konovalov, Associated Press

Trump, who has touted his good relationship with President Vladimir Putin and called the Russian leader "pretty smart" for invading Ukraine, has repeatedly criticized American backing of Ukraine.