Moscow has hoped to mend relations with the United States while continuing to wage war in Ukraine, but Mr. Putin’s insistence on pushing his offensive has come at a diplomatic cost.

By Ben Aris in Berlin “Ukraine is part of Russia,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his keynote address at this year’s St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) plenary session on June 20,

He made the statement publicly, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. “I have said many times that I consider the Russian and Ukrainian peoples to be one nation,” said Putin, drawing applause from the audience.

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Thursday refused to discuss the possibility that Israel and the United States would kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and said the Iranian people were consolidating around the leadership in Tehran.

When asked what Russia's response would be if Ukraine used a dirty bomb, Putin said: "This would be a colossal mistake...maybe their last mistake...we always respond to all threat