Vladimir Putin
President of Russia
Vladimir Putin
President of Russia
Vladimir Putin is the President of Russia, having held power either as president or prime minister since 1999, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in modern Russian history. Born in 1952 in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Putin had a background in the KGB, the Soviet Union’s intelligence agency, before transitioning into politics in the 1990s. Under his leadership, Russia has seen significant political centralization, economic fluctuations, and assertive foreign policies, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His rule has been marked by crackdowns on political opposition, media restrictions, and efforts to maintain control through constitutional changes allowing him to potentially remain in power until 2036. While his supporters view him as a strong leader restoring Russia’s influence on the world stage, critics accuse him of authoritarianism, human rights violations, and suppressing democracy. His presidency continues to shape global geopolitic
Rare Night of Peace: Ukraine Reports No Mass Drone Strikes After Trump's Russia Warning
- Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Ukraine reported no mass drone strikes against civilians for the first time in months on the night following Donald Trump’s statement that he was "pi**ed off" with Russian President Putin and threatened to impose sanctions. This rare absence of drone attacks came after Ukraine shot down two cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight, but officials did report limited damage from drone attacks in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Russia's Largest Military Call-Up in Years: Putin Orders 160,000 Conscripts to Enlist
- Tuesday, 01 April 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called up 160,000 men aged 18-30 for military service, the highest number since 2011. The conscripts will not be sent to fight in Ukraine's "special military operation" immediately, but there have been reports of conscripts being killed in border regions and fighting in Ukraine. Despite US attempts at a ceasefire, Russia has not agreed to one, and the violence continues with Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
Trump Threatens Tariffs on Russia if Ceasefire Talks Fail in Ukraine Conflict
- Monday, 31 March 2025
US President Donald Trump said he is "very angry" and "pissed off" with Russian President Vladimir Putin over ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine. Trump criticized Putin for attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s credibility and threatened to impose a 50% tariff on countries buying Russian oil if a ceasefire is not agreed upon. Trump also accused Zelensky of trying to back out of a deal to share Ukraine's rare minerals with the US and warned of "big, big problems" if that were the case.
Russia Orders Largest Conscripted Troop Increase Since Ukraine War Began: 160,000 More Servicemen Called Up
- Monday, 31 March 2025
Russia has ordered an additional 160,000 servicemen to be conscripted, the largest increase since the war began in Ukraine. This brings the total number of draft sizes to 150,000 in 2024 and 134,500 in 2022. The move comes as Putin orders a boost in Russia's army size to 1.5 million active servicemen, despite efforts for a ceasefire in the three-year-old conflict.
