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
Russia could face "veritable extinction" if the birth rate doesn't increase, according to President Vladimir Putin. He said women who don't want children should be sent to psychologists to "promote a positive attitude towards motherhood." "Cruel and completely ineffective," says 25-year-old Maria.
WorldUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. The two "agreed on new steps in security cooperation," according to Zelenskyy.
ConflictsThe Kremlin is tightening its grip on Russians online. Popular global platforms are increasingly difficult to access. Instead, users are being driven toward state-led platforms where authorities are assumed to monitor everything that is written.
World politicsU.S. Senator Marco Rubio accuses Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of lying.
WorldHungary ignores decisions, has ties to Russia, and is accused of corruption and abuse of power. As long as Viktor Orbán has the support of another EU country, Brussels will still find it difficult to act.
WorldA victory against Ukraine tonight at Estadio Ciutat de Valencia would bring everything to a head in Solna on Tuesday. That match will decide whether the men's national football team will play in this summer's World Cup finals.
FootballThe Russian shadow fleet will be met with a tougher response, promise the countries in the northern European, British-led defense cooperation JEF. "We must hunt them down even harder," says British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Swedish politicsThe United States is making its security guarantees for Ukraine conditional on a peace agreement in which Ukraine gives up the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Reuters.
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