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
Putin's Power Play: Trump Envoy Kept Waiting Eight Hours in Moscow Meeting Delay
- Saturday, 15 March 2025
Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, spent eight hours waiting for a meeting with Kremlin officials in Moscow before leaving around 2am, following a "classic Putin power play". Witkoff arrived at the airport at midday but was kept waiting while Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The meeting finally took place behind closed doors after nightfall and Witkoff departed shortly afterwards.
Trump Warns Putin: Back Ukraine Ceasefire or Face 'Devastating' Financial Consequences
- Thursday, 13 March 2025
President Donald Trump threatened "devastating" consequences for Russia if Vladimir Putin does not agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump said there are financial measures that could be taken that would be bad for Russia, but he doesn't want to do so in order to achieve peace. This marks a change from his previous positive comments about Putin and Russia.
Putin Launches Drone Strikes on Kyiv as Trump Challenges Him to 'Tango' Over Ukraine Ceasefire
- Thursday, 13 March 2025
Putin launched drone strikes on Kyiv hours after Trump challenged him to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire, casting doubt on Putin's willingness to accept peace demands. The US President suggested direct talks with Putin, saying "it takes two to tango." The US Secretary of State said the ball is now in Moscow's court, and if Russia says no, it will be known what impedes peace.
Trump Challenges Putin to 'Tango' in Bid to End Ukraine War
- Thursday, 13 March 2025
Volodymyr Zelensky was humiliated by Donald Trump and his sidekick JD Vance during a meeting at the White House, with Trump leaving out only his "You're fired" catchphrase. Despite this, Zelensky maintained his composure and was eventually rewarded with US support for Ukraine's bid to end the war. Trump then stated that he would negotiate directly with Vladimir Putin, saying "it takes two to tango" and expressing hope that Putin would agree.
