VLADIMIR PUTIN

"It’s worth recalling that NATO’s basic task is to protect the security of residents on the territory of the alliance members."

Sens. John McCain and Kelly Ayotte have shielded their pet warplane from cuts before. This time they have a big ace up their sleeve.

Maya Plisetskaya, revered as one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, died on Saturday of a "severe heart attack."

The conflict has killed more than 6,000 people on both sides in recent months and displaced a million residents.

The United States has so far declined to provide weapons to Ukraine, a move that advocates say could help end the conflict.

Reports have speculated the North Korean leader cancelled his Russia visit for fear of upsetting China.

Russia will produce two new Tu-160s by the end of 2015 and modernize five others, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

Russia's economy is projected to shrink up to 5 percent this year, the biggest decline since President Vladimir Putin came to power.

It is believed the refusal of entry to the pro-Putin biker gang at the Polish border is tied to violence in East Ukraine and Russian actions in Crimea.

The European Union tells Ukraine to shape up if it wants EU aid in its fight with pro-Russians.

According to European monitors stationed in the Donetsk region, "intense shelling" using large-caliber artillery was seen on Sunday.

The founder of the group, Dmitry Demushkin, reportedly was arrested for attending a "Hitler birthday party" on Monday.

Relations between the two nations have become increasingly fraught over disagreements about the conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

300 members of the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade is expected to train 900 guardsmen in three rotations over six months.

The Russian president said he fears giving lethal weapons to Ukraine will just lead to a higher death toll and undermine the Minsk II agreement.

Even so, Moscow and Athens are at odds with the rest of Europe, and they would greatly benefit from a profitable natural-gas pipeline deal.

Russia's two most prominent opposition parties will unite for regional elections later this year and State Duma elections in 2016.

Russia, which is trying to boost its defense capabilities in the Arctic, will hold at least 4,000 military drills in 2015.

Both journalists were Ukraine oppositionists who were noted for their pro-Russian stances.

Vladimir Putin sought to strike a confident tone on live television, dismissing the impact of Western sanctions and refuting Russia's role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Russia was quick to sell Iran the much-vaunted S-300 after the Geneva deal. But the advanced weapon isn't invincible.