President Vladimir Putin

Russian police officers, wearing face masks to guard against the coronavirus, descend into a pedestrian underpass as they patrol to enforce a self-isolation regime in Moscow.

Putin Warns That Russia's COVID-19 Pandemic Is Getting Worse

10:28am April 14, 2020

by Scott Neuman

A month ago, Vladimir Putin said the outbreak in Russia was "under control," but in a teleconference with health officials on Monday he acknowledged the situation was changing "not for the better."

Moscow has been on a coronavirus lockdown with residents being told to stay at home and go out for essential purposes only.

World News

Russia Tops 10,000 Coronavirus Cases With Moscow At The Epicenter

11:50am April 09, 2020

by Scott Neuman

Officials said Thursday that the country had nearly 1,500 new cases in a single day with 13 new deaths from COVID-19. The news came as the Kremlin extended a national "non-working week."

German authorities say there are signs that the killing of a Georgian man in a Berlin park was a state-sanctioned murder. Zelimkhan Khangoshvili fought against Russian forces in the Second Chechen War. Russia denies any involvement in his killing.

World News

Germany Expels 2 Russian Diplomats, Citing Evidence Of A Sanctioned Murder In Berlin

1:57pm December 04, 2019

by Bill Chappell

German prosecutors say they've uncovered evidence that seems to link the suspected gunman to the Russian government. They also say the same man was wanted for a similar killing in Moscow.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, pictured in March, said he plans to tell his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, that Moscow must stop meddling in the Venezuelan crisis.

Pompeo Says U.S. Prepared To Offer Guaidó 'Full Range Of Options' To Oust Maduro

5:53pm May 05, 2019

by Vanessa Romo

The options available to the Venezuelan opposition leader include, "diplomatic options, political options" and "ultimately a set of options that would involve use of U.S. military," Pompeo said.

Yevgeny Prigozhin (left) serves food to Russian leader Vladimir Putin during a 2011 dinner at Prigozhin's restaurant outside Moscow.

'Putin's Chef' Has His Fingers In Many Pies, Critics Say

5:58pm January 30, 2019

by Greg Myre

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a high-end caterer with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is accused of interfering in the 2016 U.S. election and is linked to Russian mercenaries in Syria and Ukraine.

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President Trump speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Hamburg in July 2017.

Trump Says He's 'Not Keeping Anything Under Wraps,' About Meetings With Putin

2:26pm January 13, 2019

by Clare Lombardo

President Trump took pains to keep the details of meetings with Putin secret, the Washington Post reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) sits beside Vice President Pence, who talks to U.S. national security adviser John Bolton (left) during the 13th East Asian Summit in Singapore on Thursday.

Pence, Putin And Bolton Have 'Informal Conversation' At Asian Summit In Singapore

3:45pm November 15, 2018

by Bill Chappell

They "discussed the upcoming G20 Summit and touched on the issues that will be discussed" when President Trump and Putin attend that meeting, the White House says.

President Trump poses for a photo with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March 2018.

World News

Opinion: A President In Praise Of Strongmen And Dictators

8:12am October 20, 2018

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon reflects on the praise that President Trump heaps on authoritarian leaders.

Pyotr Verzilov, left, the unofficial spokesperson of the Russian activist group Pussy Riot, along with Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Nadya Tolokonnikova, founding members of the group.

Pussy Riot's Pyotr Verzilov, Allegedly Poisoned, Is Flown To Germany For Treatment

11:45am September 17, 2018

by Scott Neuman

The unofficial spokesman for the punk-rock anti-Kremlin protest group became ill after a court date last week, reportedly experiencing hallucinations and paralysis before falling unconscious.

Asked by reporters at the start of a Cabinet meeting whether Russia is still targeting the U.S., President Trump shook his head and said "no."

Trump's 'No' About Russian Interference Requires Yet More Clarification

7:28pm July 18, 2018

by Brian Naylor

The White House asserted that Trump believes Russia is still targeting the U.S., despite his apparent answer to a reporter's question. Trump also told CBS he holds Putin personally responsible.