Putin

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her speech during a debate on the social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine, Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

World News

EU leader calls for Russian oil ban in new set of sanctions

4:09am May 04, 2022

by The Associated Press

The EU chief concedes that that getting all 27 member countries — some of them highly dependent on Russia for energy supplies — to agree on oil sanctions will be extremely difficult.

Vladimir Putin speaks with then-economic development and trade minister Elvira Nabiullina in Moscow on October 20, 2008 at a foreign investors advisory council meeting.

Who is the real Elvira Nabiullina?

6:30am April 19, 2022

by Paddy Hirsch

Russian central bank chief Elvira Nabiullina has cultivated the image of a nerdy, opera-loving technocrat, trapped in place by Putin's decision to go to war in Ukraine. It's not that simple.

President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin speak during a visit to Crawford High School in Crawford, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2001. The appearance wrapped up a summit of the newly elected presidents in Texas.

With Bush in 2001, Putin sought to charm students at a rural Texas high school

8:32am April 16, 2022

by Don Gonyea

Back in 2001, Vladimir Putin was seeking respect from world leaders while pledging a new openness in Russia. That's what brought him to tiny Crawford, Texas, at the invite of President George W. Bush.

Queue Listen Now

Activists hold Ukrainian flags as they protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine during a rally at Lafayette Square, across from the White House, in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 25. New U.S. sanctions Sanctions are being enacted on top Russian officials a

New U.S. sanctions target Russia's largest banks and Putin's children

11:37am April 06, 2022

by NPR Washington Desk

The U.S. joined the European Union and Group of Seven nations in enacting new sanctions on Russia in response to the civilian toll reported in Bucha and elsewhere in Ukraine in recent days.

Vladimir Putin speaks with Russian oligarch Igor Sechin (center right) in 2009.

How Putin Conquered Russia's Oligarchy

6:30am March 29, 2022

by Greg Rosalsky

In 2000, Vladimir Putin began targeting oligarchs who did not bend to his authority. The loyalists who remained — and new ones who subsequently got rich — became like ATM machines for the president.

President Biden delivers a speech on Saturday in Warsaw, Poland, about the Russian war in Ukraine.

Biden says of Putin: 'For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power'

3:03pm March 26, 2022

President Biden's remark about Russian President Vladimir Putin came in a speech in Warsaw. A White House official later said Biden "was not discussing Putin's power in Russia, or regime change."

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech at a concert marking the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on March 18, 2022.

Putin's puffy coat and Zelenskyy's T-shirts show the power of fashion in war

8:46am March 22, 2022

by Fernando Alfonso III

President Vladimir Putin's coat and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy's T-shirts can be considered political statements.

World News

Stolichnaya Vodka rebrands as 'Stoli,' trying to distance itself from Putin

7:44pm March 07, 2022

by Vanessa Romo

Company leaders explained vehement opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. They also hope the new name will represent "Stoli's roots in Latvia."

A building burns after shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 3. Russian forces have escalated their attacks on crowded cities in what Ukraine's leader called a blatant campaign of terror.

Putin's war is a nightmare for the Ukrainian people and for Russia, an expert warns

5:47pm March 03, 2022

by Terry Gross

Putin acted out of hubris and "didn't get the politics of Ukraine right" when he decided to invade, says Michael Kimmage, an academic who formerly served at the State Department.

Queue Listen Now

World Taekwondo Federation President Choue Chung-won, left, gives an honorary taekwondo black belt and uniform to Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013.

World Taekwondo strips Russia's Vladimir Putin of his honorary black belt

3:58pm March 02, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

Russian President Vladimir Putin received the honorary black belt back in Nov. 2013 from World Taekwondo, the international governing body of the sport. He is known to be a fan of martial arts.