The event for the Russian president, who claimed his fifth term in a rubber-stamp election, included a church service that underscored efforts to give a religious sheen to his rule.
Author: Valerie Hopkins and Anton Troianovski
Putin Suggests He Has a Winning Hand in His War in Ukraine
The Russian leader, in his annual news conference, said he was open to peace talks but showed no hint of compromise. “Peace will come when we achieve our goals,” he said.
With Attacks on Ukraine, Putin Gives Hard-Liners What They Wanted
A sharp shift toward deadly strikes signaled that domestic pressure over Russia’s flailing war effort had escalated to the point where Vladimir Putin felt a decisive show of force was necessary.