Vladimir Putin, born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia, is a prominent Russian politician who has played a significant role in the country's political landscape over the last few decades. He graduated from Leningrad State University in 1975 with a degree in law and began his career in the KGB, the Soviet Union's security agency, where he served for 16 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Putin transitioned into politics, quickly ascending through the ranks. He served as the Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the KGB's successor, and then as Secretary of the Security Council.
Putin first became Prime Minister of Russia in 1999 under President Boris Yeltsin. Later that year, Yeltsin resigned, and Putin became the Acting President of Russia. He won his first presidential election in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004. Due to constitutional term limits, Putin did not run for the presidency in 2008 but served as Prime Minister under Dmitry Medvedev. In 2012 and again in 2018, Putin was re-elected as President of Russia
Vladimir Putin wants to redraw Europe’s security map and will likely include both Finland and Sweden, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Information emerging from the latest negotiations suggests that Russia is sticking to demands it made before its full-scale invasion.
ConflictsThe leaders of the United States, Russia and China will meet on Thursday, the White House said. The meeting will take place during the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China.
World politicsDuring negotiations on the war in Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, Russia is said to have made far-reaching demands, including that Finland leave NATO, the German newspaper Bild reports.
ConflictsRussian NHL star Aleksandr Ovechkin has been criticized for his close ties to Vladimir Putin. Now the 41-year-old is being defended by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. What Ovechkin does in his home country is none of the league's business, Bettman said at a press conference.
Ice hockeyOn the sidelines of the European summit in Ireland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the two US envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met at Dublin Airport. They broadly agreed that Europe’s participation in the talks is crucial.
ConflictsFederations that boycott World Championship matches against Russia should be punished by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). That is the view of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, which has asked the IIHF Ethics Council to impose sanctions on, among others, Sweden.
Ice hockeyA new humanitarian operation similar to the limited ceasefire in Oleshky - and no Western soldiers in Ukraine. That is what Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at a meeting in Moscow. Kushner and Witkoff traveled to Dublin after the Kremlin meeting for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.
World politicsIrritated Eastern Europeans do not want to be overruled by the West in any talks with Russia. Now they are looking for someone who can speak for everyone.
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