Vladimir Putin

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.

North Korea's top diplomat in Moscow for talks as Pyongyang sends troops to help the war on Ukraine

By Associated Press

Russia's top diplomat met his North Korean counterpart for talks amid reports that Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to Russia to support its military in the war in Ukraine.

What the U.S. election means for Russia, and how Putin views the candidates

By Associated Press

The election Tuesday carries significant stakes for the Kremlin.

North Korea's foreign minister visits Russia as its troops train to fight in Ukraine

By Kim Tong-Hyung, Associated Press

North Korea said its top diplomat is visiting Russia in another sign of their deepening relations as rival South Korea and Western nations expressed alarm at the North’s alleged deployment of thousands of troops to support Russia’s warfighting in Ukraine.