Despite the strong economic ties between Germany and Russia, the country's relations have been strained as of late over the Kremlin's recent apparent political crackdowns.
Scores of websites have been blocked under Russia's restrictive new Internet law that's been in effect for the past two weeks. Is this the beginning of a wider crackdown on free speech?
Many in Moscow see Putin's invitation to Obama to visit Russia as diplomatic decorum unlikely to warm a chilly relationship. But others suggest that the Russian leader may be ready to deal.
Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was born in Belarus, inaugurated the Jewish Museum, noting its powerful testament to how a country can change.
Obama promised 'more flexibility' with Russia after his reelection. But President Putin is pursuing a foreign policy agenda that is increasingly critical of the US.
Anatoly Serdyukov is mired in a corruption scandal, but some experts say that he was driven out by conservatives unhappy with his military reforms.
Putin has decided to ditch foreign-made armored limos in favor of a Russian model. But experts say the move, while patriotic, won't change things for the utilitarian Russian auto industry.
Some Russian activists are drawing parallels between a potential 'mega trial' for leftist leader Sergei Udaltsov and Stalin's show trials in the 1930s. But the comparison remains controversial.
The results, which keep the ruling party in power with a still-strong opposition, show the divide between the country's Europe-leaning west, moderate center, and Moscow-oriented east.
Ukraine's Sunday polls look set to reinstall a government that has aligned the country more closely with Russia. But at least three opposition parties are poised to establish a counterbalance.
The author of the professionally written report says it is meant to broaden the conversation by inviting Americans to see that they have plenty of problems in their own country.
Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych, who met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow yesterday, may have no option but to warm to Russia despite being aggravated over high Russian gas prices.
Analysts worry that Leonid Razvozzhayev's alleged kidnapping from a Kiev street and subsequent imprisoning is start of a full-scale, no-holds-barred crackdown by Putin's Kremlin.
Vladimir Putin's motorcade can shut down Moscow's already jammed streets for hours, much to the chagrin of commuters. So he plans to do more work at the presidential residence.
Putin says Russia faces real security threats in coming years as it hosts the World Cup and Olympics, but may also be conflating opposition leaders like Sergei Udaltsov with terrorists.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's party took nearly every regional seat in Sunday's elections, but most analysts say that the results were probably an accurate reflection of public sentiment.
Turkey's grounding of a Syrian plane allegedly carrying weapons from Moscow to Damascus has put Moscow and Ankara 鈥� which have been cooperating in recent years 鈥� at odds.
Russia's plan to end the Nunn-Lugar program, in which the US aided Russia in handling post-Soviet weaponry, is just part of Russia's shifting policy regarding international cooperation.
Though one Pussy Riot member was released, two other convicted Pussy Riot members are headed to prison camp in Siberia. Activists say the move is political theater.
Vladimir Putin, once again in the Kremlin's top post, faces a far more divided Russia than he did during his first stint, and he's taking a more authoritarian line to match.
