Vladimir Putin on Yahoo! News Photos

A boat sails trough a frozen sea outside Stockholm in January ...

(AFP/File) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:50:56 GMT

(AFP/File) - A boat sails trough a frozen sea outside Stockholm in January 2010. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other leaders from around the Baltic Sea hold a summit in Helsinki on Wednesday under growing pressure to clean up one of the world's most polluted seas.(AFP/File/Olivier Morin)

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, seen during a meeting with ...

(AP) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:59:57 GMT

(AP) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, seen during a meeting with Interior Ministry troops in Ufa, the capital of the Russia's Volga River region of Bashkortostan,750 miles (1,200 kilometers) east of Moscow on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Pool)

President Dmitry Medvedev visits the annual a photographic exhibition ...

(AP) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:44:01 GMT

(AP) - President Dmitry Medvedev visits the annual a photographic exhibition 'The best photos of Russia - 2009' in Moscow, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, with the chief of the project Sofya Trotsenko in the background. A photo of former Russia's President, current Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin seen at left. (AP Photo/Sergei Karpukhin, Pool)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L, in the foreground) ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:08:17 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L, in the foreground) greets servicemen, whose colleagues were killed in Chechnya last week, at a military unit in the city of Ufa in the southern Ural Mountains February 8, 2010. At least six insurgents and five Russian troops have been killed in gun battles in Chechnya, authorities in the Russian province said last Friday. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Nikolsky (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY CRIME LAW)

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R), accompanied by Sofya ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:50:14 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R), accompanied by Sofya Trotsenko - chief of the project, visits the annual Russian photographic exhibition "The best photos of Russia - 2009", with a photo of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the foreground, in Moscow February 8, 2010. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin looks on during a meeting ...

(Reuters) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:51:12 GMT

(Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin looks on during a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Karim Masimov in Yalta, November 20, 2009. REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Alexei Nikolsky/Pool

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin gestures during a meeting ...

(Reuters) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:19:54 GMT

(Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin gestures during a meeting with leaders of the dominant United Russia political party in Moscow February 5, 2010. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Alexei Druzhinin/Pool (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, and Chief of Russia's ...

(AP) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:44:18 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, and Chief of Russia's Nanotechnology Agency Anatoly Chubais speak during their meeting in Moscow, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) meets with Head ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:59:19 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) meets with Head of Russia's Nanotechnology Agency Anatoly Chubais in Moscow February 4, 2010. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Alexei Druzhinin/Pool (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk (L) chats with Poland's ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:56:04 GMT

(Reuters) - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk (L) chats with Poland's President Lech Kaczynski during a ceremony in Auschwitz Birkenau January 27, 2010. Poland's President Kaczynski said on Thursday he planned to attend a commemoration in April of the wartime massacre of 20,000 Polish officers by Soviet forces even though Moscow has not invited him. On Wednesday Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin invited his Polish counterpart, Tusk, to join him at the site of the 1940 massacre, the Katyn forest in western Russia, in a sign of improving relations between Warsaw and Moscow. Picture taken January 27, 2010. REUTERS/Peter Andrews (POLAND - Tags: POLITICS)

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk (L) chats with Poland's ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:54:57 GMT

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin enters to attend a Cabinet ...

(AP) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:40:51 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin enters to attend a Cabinet meeting in Moscow, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs his cabinet's ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:36:11 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs his cabinet's presidium meeting in Moscow February 4, 2010. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Alexei Druzhinin/Pool (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs his cabinet's ...

(Reuters) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:31:48 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs his cabinet's presidium meeting in Moscow February 4, 2010. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Alexei Druzhinin/Pool (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends a Cabinet meeting ...

(AP) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:25:57 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends a Cabinet meeting in Moscow, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen during a Cabinet ...

(AP) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:21:48 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen during a Cabinet meeting in Moscow, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen during a Cabinet ...

(AP) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:18:17 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen during a Cabinet meeting in Moscow, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev participates in a video conference ...

(AFP/POOL) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:06:48 GMT

(AFP/POOL) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev participates in a video conference from his Gorki residence outside Moscow. Medvedev has made modernization his mantra over the last months. But sceptics argue his ambitions carry little weight given the real power in is still wielded by his Kremlin predecessor and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.(AFP/POOL/Mikhail Klimentyev)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) chairs a meeting, ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:51:29 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) chairs a meeting, dedicated to the control of foreign investments in the Russian Federation, in Moscow February 3, 2010. Putin's party on Wednesday threatened to sack Russia's top senator for publicly criticising the former Kremlin chief over his handling of the economic crisis. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Nikolsky (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting, ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:50:23 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting, dedicated to the control of foreign investments in the Russian Federation, in Moscow February 3, 2010. Putin's party on Wednesday threatened to sack Russia's top senator for publicly criticising the former Kremlin chief over his handling of the economic crisis. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Nikolsky (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin enters a hall to ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:49:18 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting, dedicated to the control of foreign investments in the Russian Federation, in Moscow February 3, 2010. Putin's party on Wednesday threatened to sack Russia's top senator for publicly criticising the former Kremlin chief over his handling of the economic crisis. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Nikolsky (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) meets with creative ...

(Reuters) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:33:36 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) meets with creative director of the Mariinsky Theatre Valery Gergiev in Moscow February 3, 2010. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Nikolsky (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS ENTERTAINMENT)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, right, and Prime Minister ...

(AP) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:37:56 GMT

(AP) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, right, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen during a meeting on investment at the Kremlin in Moscow on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday urged the government to come up with a plan to make the energy-dependent country more attractive for foreign investors, Russia news agencies reported. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service)

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and Prime Minister ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:29:32 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (2nd R) attend a meeting in Moscow February 2, 2010. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Kremlin/Dmitry Astakhov (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) greets Patriarch ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:17:02 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) greets Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill as they meet in Moscow February 1, 2010. Russian Orthodox believers celebrate the 1st anniversary of Patriarch Kirill's enthronement. Picture taken February 1, 2010. REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Alexei Druzhinin/Pool (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs a Cabinet meeting ...

(AP) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:41:38 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs a Cabinet meeting in Moscow, Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) meets with Vladimir ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:18:44 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) meets with Vladimir Grodetsky, CEO of Izhevsk machine-building plant, at his Novo-Ogoryovo residence outside Moscow January 30, 2010. Libya has signed an arms deal with Russia worth 1.3 billion euros (1.1 billion pound), Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying on Saturday. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Nikolsky (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS MILITARY)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) is shown the cockpit ...

(AFP/Ria Novosti/File) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:51:26 GMT

(AFP/Ria Novosti/File) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) is shown the cockpit of a Sukhoi passenger jet by company general director, Mikhail Pogosyan at the firm's plant in Komsomolsk-on Amur. A new Russian fighter jet developed by Sukhoi amid the highest secrecy as part of a plan to modernize the armed forces on Friday successfully performed its maiden flight, officials said.(AFP/Ria Novosti/File/Alexey Druzhinin)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) heads a meeting on ...

(AFP/POOL/File) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:44:59 GMT

(AFP/POOL/File) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) heads a meeting on the Russian economy with First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov (L) in 2008. Shuvalov on Wednesday accused the United States of hindering his country's long-running bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), calling on Washington to step up cooperation.(AFP/POOL/File/Alexey Druzhinin)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) applauds during a ...

(AFP/RIA/File) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:10:31 GMT

(AFP/RIA/File) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) applauds during a ceremony in Moscow on January 20. A musician reputed to be Putin's favourite rock star received a seat in parliament on Wednesday, the country's central elections commission said.(AFP/RIA/File/Alexey Druzhinin)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with his first deputy ...

(AP) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:42:01 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with his first deputy Igor Shuvalov, left, at the government headquarters in Moscow on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/ Ris Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with his first deputy ...

(AP) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:41:40 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with his first deputy Igor Shuvalov, not pictured, at the government headquarters in Moscow on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Ris Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, pool)

Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia Alexander ...

(AP) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:09:57 GMT

(AP) - Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Russia Alexander Boroda, right, and chief Rabbi Berl Lazar, left, speak to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, center, Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) meets with Russia's ...

(Reuters) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:18:25 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) meets with Russia's Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar (L) and Alexander Boroda, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, January 26, 2010. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Druzhinin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION)

In this picture taken Monday, Jan. 25, 2010, Russian Prime Minister ...

(AP) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:56:50 GMT

(AP) - In this picture taken Monday, Jan. 25, 2010, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin puts a candle in an Orthodox cathedral in the regional capital Cheboksary, some 680 km (425 miles) east of Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends the opening of ...

(AP) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:41:04 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attends the opening of a sports palace in the regional capital Cheboksary of Russia's Chuvashiya region, some 680 km 425 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Monday, Jan. 25. 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signs autographs at the ...

(AP) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:07:07 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signs autographs at the opening of a sports palace in the regional capital Cheboksary of Russia's Chuvashiya region, some 680 km 425 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Monday, Jan. 25. 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Metropolitan of Cheboksary ...

(AP) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:06:52 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Metropolitan of Cheboksary and Chuvashiya, Varnava, seen in an Orthodox cathedral in the regional capital Cheboksary of Russia's Chuvashiya region, some 680 km 425 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Monday, Jan. 25. 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin places a candle in an ...

(AP) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:06:32 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin places a candle in an Orthodox cathedral in the regional capital Cheboksary, some 680 km 425 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Monday, Jan. 25. 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

File - In this May 16, 2009 file photo, Russian Prime Minister ...

(AP) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:45:27 GMT

(AP) - File - In this May 16, 2009 file photo, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin looks at his new car, a locally-produced Lada Niva SUV, as he shows it to the media in his Black Sea residence in Sochi, southern Russia. The prime minister admitted Monday Jan. 25 2010 to outfitting his Russian-made SUV with a German engine made by Opel. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen meeting with students ...

(AP) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:40:48 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin seen meeting with students at a university in the regional capital Cheboksary, some 680 km 425 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Monday, Jan. 25. 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, seen visiting a ...

(AP) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:08:28 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, seen visiting a university in the regional capital Cheboksary, some 680 km 425 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Monday, Jan. 25. 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, is offered some ...

(AP) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:07:37 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, is offered some cookies while visiting a university in the regional capital Cheboksary, some 680 km 425 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Monday, Jan. 25. 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) meets with students ...

(Reuters) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:13:15 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) meets with students as he visits the Chuvash State University in the city of Cheboksary, about 650 km (404 miles) south-east of Moscow January 25, 2010. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Alexei Druzhinin/Pool (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS EDUCATION)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, pictured in January 20, ...

(AFP/POOL/File) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:32:03 GMT

(AFP/POOL/File) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, pictured in January 20, said Saturday that extremists in the restive North Caucasus region had been "vanquished" and the fight now was against corruption and poverty.(AFP/POOL/File/Alexey Druzhinin)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin listens as he sits at ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:47:53 GMT

(Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin listens as he sits at a meeting in Russia's southern city of Pyatigorsk, January 23, 2010. REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Pool/Alexei Druzhinin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, center, chairs a meeting ...

(AP) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:25:33 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, center, chairs a meeting with officials in Pyatigorsk, southern Russia, some 1300 km (813 miles) south of Moscow, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010. Putin on Saturday ordered officials in the North Caucasus to ensure what he called the 'normal work' of human rights groups operating in the volatile region. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with ...

(AP) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:24:57 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with officials in Pyatigorsk, southern Russia, some 1300 km (813 miles) south of Moscow, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010. Putin on Saturday ordered officials in the North Caucasus to ensure what he called the 'normal work' of human rights groups operating in the volatile region. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, chairs a meeting ...

(AP) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:23:45 GMT

(AP) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, chairs a meeting with officials in Pyatigorsk, southern Russia, some 1300 km (813 miles) south of Moscow, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010. Putin on Saturday ordered officials in the North Caucasus to ensure what he called the 'normal work' of human rights groups operating in the volatile region. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks during a session ...

(Reuters) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:17:34 GMT

(Reuters) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks during a session of the Eurasian Economic Community Interstate Council in St. Petersburg December 11, 2009. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Alexei Nikolsky/Pool