The three-country trade bloc was more noteworthy for a nation it didn't include: Ukraine.
Emboldened by the takeover of Crimea, Russia's army wants to recruit 500,000 professionals in just three years, and is going hard at it.
Putin's statement has been seen as a sign that the Kremlin recognizes the legitimacy of the election in Ukraine.
Two days into his job, Ukraine's new president gets a hand from Europe, but he must keep Moscow happy, too.
Fighting continued into Tuesday while government forces tried to wrest control from rebel forces in Donetsk in the country’s east.
New president Poroshenko rejects negotiations with "terrorists."
Moscow said it was ready for dialogue with Petro Poroshenko but asked that he scale back his armed forces' campaign in the east.
The move would depend on the outcome of the independence referendum.
A large turnout is reported as a pro-European billionaire is declared the winner.
"This is not royal behavior," the Russian president says, but UK politicians fail to condemn the prince's controversial comments.
The two oil giants will keep drilling together in the Arctic.
The Russian leader's promise to "respect" Sunday's results doesn't imply that he will change his views or his tactics.
Speaking in St Petersburg on Friday, Putin said he would “respect the choice of the Ukrainian people” in Sunday's upcoming presidential election.
Russia's deputy defense minister reportedly promised to "leave less than nothing behind” on its border with Ukraine.
The use of the word "terrorism" by the White House to describe the attack in Urumqi marks a switch for the administration.
China has blamed a recent series of knife and bomb attacks on militants from Xinjiang, the traditional home of the ethnic Muslim Uighurs.
Even if the long-term economic effect of the $400 billion natural gas deal is small, Beijing and Moscow have formed a major partnership.
Here's what was served at the symbolic meal that Xi Jingping hosted for Vladimir Putin ahead of the Gazprom gas supply negotiations.
Russia is looking at new ties with Asia and the gas deal comes as a major breakthrough after a 10-year-long negotiation.
Hhe also pledged to peacefully resolve China's disputes over territory, which have intensified in recent years.
Prince Charles is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at D-Day commemorations in France on June 6.
Russia needs China's markets more than China wants Russian gas.