Career Timeline of Vladimir Putin: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Vladimir Putin made an impact.
Vladimir Putin is a prominent Russian politician who has significantly shaped Russia's trajectory in the 21st century. A former intelligence officer, he served as President of Russia from 2000-2008 and again from 2012 to the present. He also held the position of Prime Minister twice (1999-2000 and 2008-2012). Often regarded as the de facto leader of Russia since 2000, his leadership has been characterized by a strong emphasis on national sovereignty, centralized power, and assertive foreign policy.
1943: Tehran Conference
Since Joseph Stalin's participation in the Tehran Conference in 1943, the 16 of October 2007 marked the first visit of a Soviet or Russian leader to Iran.
1975: Joined the KGB
In 1975, Vladimir Putin joined the KGB and trained at the 401st KGB School in Okhta, Leningrad.
September 1984: Sent to Moscow for further training
In September 1984, Vladimir Putin was sent to Moscow for further training at the Yuri Andropov Red Banner Institute.
1985: Posted in Dresden, East Germany
From 1985 to 1990, Vladimir Putin served in Dresden, East Germany, using a cover identity as a translator for the KGB.
May 1990: Appointed Advisor on International Affairs
In May 1990, Vladimir Putin was appointed as an advisor on international affairs to Mayor Anatoly Sobchak in Saint Petersburg.
1990: End of Putin's Assignment in East Germany
In 1990, Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila concluded their assignment in East Germany, where they had been living since 1985.
1990: End of Service in Dresden
In 1990, Vladimir Putin's service in Dresden, East Germany, ended.
1990: Returned to Leningrad
In early 1990, Vladimir Putin returned to Leningrad and worked with the International Affairs section of Leningrad State University.
June 1991: Head of Committee for External Relations
In June 1991, Vladimir Putin became the head of the Committee for External Relations of the Saint Petersburg Mayor's Office.
August 1991: Resigned from KGB
On August 20, 1991, Vladimir Putin resigned from the KGB with the rank of lieutenant colonel, on the second day of the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt.
1991: Resigned from KGB to start political career
In 1991, Vladimir Putin resigned from the KGB to begin his political career in Saint Petersburg.
1994: Eurasian Union Concept Proposed
In 1994, the concept of a Eurasian Union was proposed by the president of Kazakhstan.
1996: Moved to Moscow to join Yeltsin's administration
In 1996, Vladimir Putin moved to Moscow to join the administration of President Boris Yeltsin.
1996: Called to Moscow
In 1996, following the electoral defeat of Sobchak, Vladimir Putin was called to Moscow and assumed the role of Deputy Chief of the Presidential Property Management Department.
1996: Retained position until 1996
Vladimir Putin retained his position in the Saint Petersburg administration until 1996.
1997: Appointed Deputy Chief of the Presidential Staff
In 1997, Vladimir Putin was appointed deputy chief of the Presidential Staff.
1998: Appointed Director of the FSB
In 1998, President Boris Yeltsin appointed Vladimir Putin director of the FSB.
August 1999: Appointed Prime Minister of Russia
In August 1999, Vladimir Putin was appointed Prime Minister of Russia.
August 1999: Putin Appointed as First Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister
In August 1999, Vladimir Putin's public profile significantly rose when he was appointed as one of the three First Deputy Prime Ministers. Subsequently, he became the acting Prime Minister after Sergei Stepashin's cabinet was dismissed.
December 1999: Putin's Foreign Policy Objectives
In December 1999, Putin outlined his foreign policy objectives in the document "Russia at the Turn of the Millennium", emphasizing Russia's unique values, unity, and anti-Western security narratives.
1999: Start of "Reform" Years
In 1999, Sergey Guriyev marked the beginning of Putin's "reform" years during his first term.
1999: Putin Describes Communism and Leads in Polls
In 1999, Vladimir Putin characterized communism as "a blind alley, far away from the mainstream of civilization." By the autumn of 1999, Putin had surpassed Zyuganov as the leading candidate in the polls for the upcoming 2000 presidential election.
1999: Appointed Prime Minister of Russia
In 1999, Vladimir Putin served as Prime Minister of Russia.
March 2000: Elected President of Russia
In March 2000, Vladimir Putin was elected to his first term as President of Russia.
March 2000: Putin Wins Presidential Election
In March 2000, Vladimir Putin, endorsed by Yeltsin as his preferred successor, leveraged his law-and-order reputation to win the presidential election.
May 2000: Putin's visit to Tashkent
In May 2000, Vladimir Putin visited Tashkent, Uzbekistan, marking an improvement in relations between Russia and Uzbekistan after a period of lukewarm relations under Yeltsin.
May 2000: Decree on Federal Subjects Organization
On 13 May 2000, Putin issued a decree organizing the 89 federal subjects of Russia into seven administrative federal districts and appointed a presidential envoy responsible for each of those districts.
May 2000: Putin Inaugurated as President
On May 7, 2000, Vladimir Putin was inaugurated as the President of Russia.
July 2000: Putin Visits North Korea
In July 2000, Putin became the first Russian or Soviet leader to visit North Korea, meeting with Kim Jong Il shortly after visiting South Korea.
July 2000: Putin Gained Right to Dismiss Heads of Federal Subjects
In July 2000, according to a law proposed by Putin and approved by the Federal Assembly of Russia, Putin gained the right to dismiss the heads of the 89 federal subjects.
2000: Launch of Socio-Economic Development Program
In 2000, Putin launched the "Programme for the Socio-Economic Development of the Russian Federation for the Period 2000–2010".
2000: Vladimir Litvinenko managed presidential election campaign
In 2000, Vladimir Litvinenko managed Vladimir Putin's presidential election campaigns in St Petersburg.
2000: First Presidential Term
In 2000, Vladimir Putin began his first term as President of Russia.
2000: Co-Authors "Learn Judo with Vladimir Putin"
In 2000, Vladimir Putin co-authored a book titled 'Learn Judo with Vladimir Putin' in Russian.
2000: Zyuganov Frontrunner for Presidential Elections
In 2000, Zyuganov was the evident frontrunner for the first round of the pending 2000 presidential election.
2000: Putin elected as President of Russia
Vladimir Putin was elected as President of Russia in 2000, under an independent banner.
2001: Putin's relations with Western leaders
After the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. in 2001, Putin had good relations with American President George W. Bush, and many Western European leaders.
December 2002: First Meeting Between Putin and Hu Jintao
In December 2002, Putin and Chinese leader Hu Jintao held their first meeting, initiating regular face-to-face meetings five to six times a year.
2003: End of "Reform" Years
In 2003, Sergey Guriyev noted the end of Putin's "reform" years during his first term.
2004: Putin Signed the Kyoto Protocol Treaty
In 2004, Putin signed the Kyoto Protocol treaty designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2004: Start of "Statist" Years
In 2004, Sergey Guriyev marked the beginning of Putin's "statist" years during his second term.
2004: Vladimir Litvinenko managed presidential election campaign
In 2004, Vladimir Litvinenko managed Vladimir Putin's presidential election campaigns in St Petersburg.
2004: Publishes "Judo: History, Theory, Practice" in English
In 2004, Vladimir Putin published 'Judo: History, Theory, Practice' in English.
2004: Re-elected as President
In 2004, Vladimir Putin was reelected as President of Russia.
2004: Direct Election of Governors Replaced
In 2004, the direct election of governors by popular vote was replaced with a system where they would be nominated by the president and approved or disapproved by regional legislatures.
2005: Russia Repays Soviet Union's Debts
By 2005, a fund for oil revenue allowed Russia to repay the Soviet Union's debts.
2006: Launch of Aircraft Industry Consolidation Program
In 2006, Putin launched an industry consolidation programme to bring the main aircraft-producing companies under a single umbrella organization, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).
January 2007: Putin advocates for a democratic multipolar world
In a January 2007 interview, Putin stated Russia's support for a democratic multipolar world and strengthening international law systems.
February 2007: Putin criticizes US dominance in Munich Speech
In February 2007, Putin delivered a speech in Munich criticizing the United States' monopolistic dominance in global relations and the excessive use of force, leading to an arms race. This speech became known as the Munich Speech.
May 2007: Act of Canonical Communion Signed
On 17 May 2007, the Act of Canonical Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate was signed, restoring relations between the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia after an 80-year schism. President Putin took an active part in promoting it.
June 2007: Putin's Approval Rating Reaches 81%
In June 2007, Vladimir Putin's public approval rating reached 81%, making it the second-highest of any world leader that year.
October 2007: Putin Visits Iran for Caspian Summit
On 16 October 2007, Putin visited Iran for the Second Caspian Summit in Tehran, marking the first visit of a Soviet or Russian leader to Iran since 1943. He met with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and expressed concerns over the Iranian nuclear programme, while describing Iran as a "partner".
2007: Wen Jiabao's Comment on Meetings with Medvedev
In 2007, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao quipped that he and Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev "didn't even use prepared speeches" during their regular meetings, highlighting the close relationship.
2007: Putin Visits Indonesia and Signs Arms Deal
In 2007, Putin became the first Russian or Soviet leader to visit Indonesia in half a century, resulting in the signing of an arms deal.
2007: Sochi Wins Bid for 2014 Winter Olympics
In 2007, Putin led a successful effort on behalf of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2014 Winter Paralympics, marking the first time Russia would host the Winter Olympic Games.
April 2008: Putin Visits Libya
In April 2008, Putin became the first Russian president to visit Libya.
2008: Served as Prime Minister under Medvedev
From 2008 to 2012, Vladimir Putin served as Prime Minister of Russia under Dmitry Medvedev due to constitutional term limits.
2008: World Economic Crisis and Recovery
In 2008, Sergey Guriyev noted the beginning of the world economic crisis and recovery period.
2008: Served as Prime Minister again
In 2008, Vladimir Putin served as Prime Minister of Russia again.
2008: Kazan Wins Bid for 2013 Summer Universiade
In 2008, the city of Kazan won the bid for the 2013 Summer Universiade.
November 2011: Agreement to Establish Eurasian Union by 2015
On November 18, 2011, the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia signed an agreement setting a target of establishing the Eurasian Union by 2015.
2011: Russia Boosts Relations with Vietnam
August 2012: Russia Joins the World Trade Organization
In August 2012, Russia became a member of the World Trade Organization.
2012: Putin Resumes Presidency
After Putin resumed the presidency in 2012, his rule is best described as 'manual management'.
2012: Returned as President of Russia
In 2012, Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency of Russia.
January 2013: Putin's Approval Rating Drops to 62%
In January 2013, during the 2011–2013 Russian protests, Vladimir Putin's approval rating fell to 62%, the lowest since 2000.
September 2013: Putin Urges Caution Against US Intervention in Syria
In September 2013, Vladimir Putin published an op-ed in The New York Times urging caution against U.S. intervention in Syria and criticizing American exceptionalism. Following this, Putin helped arrange for the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons.
2013: End of World Economic Crisis and Recovery
In 2013, Sergey Guriyev noted the end of the world economic crisis and recovery period.
2013: Putin Remarks on Special Relationship with China
On the eve of a 2013 state visit to Moscow by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Putin remarked that the two nations were forging a special relationship, and Xi visited the Operational Command Headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces.
August 2014: Putin's Approval Rating Climbs to 87%
In August 2014, amid increased diplomatic isolation and international sanctions due to the Russo-Ukrainian war, Vladimir Putin's approval rating reached 87%.
2014: Natural Gas Supply Deal with China
In 2014, Putin signed a deal to supply China with 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.
2014: Annexation of Crimea
In 2014, Putin's tenure included the controversial annexation of Crimea, marking a significant foreign policy action.
2014: Russia writes off Uzbek debt
In 2014, Russia agreed to write off Uzbek debt, strengthening ties between the two countries.
2014: 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics Hosted by Russia
In 2014, Russia hosted the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi, marking the first time the country held the Winter Olympic Games.
January 2015: Establishment of the Eurasian Union
On January 1, 2015, the Eurasian Union was formally established, furthering Eurasian integration policies.
June 2015: Putin's Approval Rating Reaches All-Time High of 89%
In June 2015, Vladimir Putin's approval rating climbed to 89%, an all-time high.
November 2016: Putin Congratulates Donald Trump
In November 2016, Putin congratulated Donald Trump on becoming the 45th president of the United States.
2016: Increase in Income Under Putin Administration
From 2000 to 2016, under the Putin administration, there was a 4.5-fold increase in income in USD terms, fueled by the 2000s commodities boom including record-high oil prices.
2016: Boosted Relations with the Philippines
In 2016, relations between Russia and the Philippines received a boost as Putin forged closer bilateral ties with his Filipino counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte.
2017: Putin Criticizes Violence in Myanmar
In 2017, Putin criticized violence in Myanmar against the Rohingya minorities.
2017: Putin dispatches Russian PMCs to Central African Republic
In 2017, Vladimir Putin dispatched Russian PMCs to back the Touadéra regime in the Central African Republic Civil War, gaining a permanent military presence in return.
2018: Re-elected as President
In 2018, Vladimir Putin was reelected as President of Russia.
September 2019: Friendship treaty with Mongolia
In September 2019, Putin and his Mongolian counterpart signed a permanent treaty on friendship between the two states, further enhancing trade and cultural exchanges.
October 2019: Putin Visits the United Arab Emirates and Strikes Agreements
In October 2019, Vladimir Putin visited the United Arab Emirates and secured six agreements with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, including shared investments between Russian and Emirati investment funds. Deals worth over $1.3 billion were signed in the energy, health, and advanced technology sectors.
2019: Launch of Power of Siberia Project
In 2019, Power of Siberia, which Putin has called the "world's biggest construction project", was launched and is expected to continue for 30 years at an ultimate cost to China of $400bn.
2019: Russia Joined the Paris Agreement
In 2019, Russia joined the Paris Agreement.
June 2020: Putin's Essay on World War II Anniversary
On 18 June 2020, The National Interest published an essay by Putin, titled "The Real Lessons of the 75th Anniversary of World War II", where he criticizes the Western historical view of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.
September 2020: UAC to Receive Largest-Ever Government Support
In September 2020, the UAC general director announced that the UAC will receive the largest-ever post-Soviet government support package for the aircraft industry in order to pay and renegotiate the debt.
2020: Abe's Resignation
In 2020, despite numerous meetings between Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, no agreement was signed regarding the Japan-Russia territorial disputes before Abe's resignation.
April 2021: Signed constitutional amendments into law
In April 2021, Vladimir Putin signed constitutional amendments into law, potentially extending his presidency to 2036.
2022: Anna Borshchevskaya Summarizes Putin's Foreign Policy
In her 2022 book, Anna Borshchevskaya summarized Putin's main foreign policy objectives from his 1999 document, highlighting Russia's unique values and anti-Western security narratives.
February 2023: Russia Suspends Participation in New START Treaty
On 21 February 2023, Putin suspended Russia's participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States.
2023: Planned Increase in Defense and Security Expenditures
By the end of 2023, Putin planned to spend almost 40% of public expenditures on defense and security.
February 2024: Putin's Interview with Tucker Carlson
In February 2024, since the 2022 Ukraine invasion, Putin granted an interview to Western journalist Tucker Carlson, marking a rare instance of such engagement.
March 2024: Re-elected to another term
In March 2024, Vladimir Putin was re-elected to another term as president.
August 2024: Putin Pardons Gershkovich and Others in Prisoner Swap
In August 2024, Putin pardoned American journalist Evan Gershkovich, opposition figures Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, and others in a prisoner swap with Western countries, marking the most extensive exchange since the end of the Cold War.
2024: Putin Achieves 88% of Popular Vote in Russian Presidential Election
In 2024, Vladimir Putin achieved 88% of the popular vote in the Russian presidential election, running under an independent banner. Reports of irregularities, including ballot stuffing and coercion, surfaced during the election. Russian authorities claimed Putin won 88.12% and 92.83% of votes in occupied areas of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, respectively, and 98.99% of the vote in Chechnya.
2036: Potential End of Extended Presidency
Vladimir Putin may potentially extend his presidency to 2036 due to a constitutional amendment.
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