Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Vladimir Putin
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Vladimir Putin.
Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician who has dominated Russian politics for over two decades. He has served as President of Russia since 2012, and previously from 2000-2008, and as Prime Minister from 1999-2000 and 2008-2012. He is the longest-serving Russian president since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
1960: First time US canceled a summit
In late 2013, Russian-American relations deteriorated after the United States canceled a summit for the first time since 1960, due to Putin granting asylum to Edward Snowden.
1972: US withdrawal from Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
According to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin embarked on a build-up of Russia's nuclear capabilities because of U.S. president George W. Bush's unilateral decision to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
1987: Possible Violation of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Some analysts believe that Russia's nuclear strategy under Vladimir Putin has brought Russia into violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
1989: Comparison to Soviet Era
In 2004, Freedom House warned that Russia's "retreat from freedom marks a low point not registered since 1989, when the country was part of the Soviet Union".
June 1997: Defense of Candidate of Science Dissertation
In June 1997, at the Saint Petersburg Mining Institute, Putin defended his Candidate of Science dissertation in economics, titled Strategic Planning of the Reproduction of the Mineral Resource Base of a Region under Conditions of the Formation of Market Relations. Allegations later surfaced that portions of his thesis were plagiarized.
December 1999: Presidential Decree on Guarantees for Former President
On December 31, 1999, Putin's first presidential decree, "On guarantees for the former president of the Russian Federation and the members of his family", was issued. This ensured that "corruption charges against the outgoing President and his relatives" would not be pursued, particularly regarding the Mabetex bribery case.
1999: Punishment of Journalists
Scott Gehlbach has claimed that since 1999, Vladimir Putin has systematically punished journalists who challenge his official point of view.
August 2000: Criminal Investigation Dropped
On 30 August 2000, a criminal investigation (number 18/238278-95) in which Putin himself, as a member of the Saint Petersburg city government, was one of the suspects, was dropped.
December 2000: Case Against Prosecutor General Dropped
On 30 December 2000, yet another case against the prosecutor general was dropped "for lack of evidence", despite thousands of documents having been forwarded by Swiss prosecutors.
2000: Putin's Rating Falls to Lowest Since 2000 During Protests
In January 2013, at the time of the 2011–2013 Russian protests, Putin's rating fell to 62%, the lowest since 2000, reflecting public discontent.
February 2001: Federal Law Replacing 1999 Decree Signed
On 12 February 2001, Putin signed a federal law similar to the decree of 1999, replacing it. A case regarding Putin's alleged corruption in metal exports from 1992 was brought back by Marina Salye, but she was silenced and forced to leave Saint Petersburg.
2002: Otto von Habsburg's Criticism
In a newspaper interview in 2002, Otto von Habsburg warned of Putin as an "international threat".
March 2003: Birth of Alleged Daughter Elizaveta
In March 2003, Elizaveta (Luiza Rozova), allegedly Putin's daughter, was born.
2003: Rose Revolution in Georgia
In 2003, the Rose Revolution in Georgia led to frictions in the relations of those countries with Russia.
2003: Otto von Habsburg's Criticism
In a speech in 2003, Otto von Habsburg warned of Putin as an "international threat".
2003: Litvinenko became an MI6 agent
The end of 2006 brought more strained relations in the wake of the death by polonium poisoning in London of former KGB and FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who became an MI6 agent in 2003.
December 2004: Putin criticizes Rose and Orange revolutions
In December 2004, Putin criticized the Rose and Orange revolutions, warning of endless conflict in the post-Soviet space.
2004: Freedom House Warns of Retreat from Freedom
In 2004, Freedom House warned that Russia's "retreat from freedom marks a low point not registered since 1989, when the country was part of the Soviet Union".
2005: Formation of Paramilitary Groups
Between 2005 and 2012, Putin allegedly organized a number of paramilitary groups loyal to himself and to the United Russia party.
2005: Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan
In 2005, the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan led to frictions in the relations of those countries with Russia.
2005: Otto von Habsburg's Criticism
In a speech in 2005, Otto von Habsburg warned of Putin as an "international threat".
2005: Freedom House Lists Russia as "Not Free"
Since 2005, Freedom House has listed Russia as being "not free", citing democratic backsliding during Putin's tenure.
October 2006: Assassination of Anna Politkovskaya
On 7 October 2006, Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist who exposed corruption in the Russian army and its conduct in Chechnya, was shot in the lobby of her apartment building, on Putin's birthday, triggering international criticism regarding the protection of independent media.
2006: Planning the Russo-Georgian War
As early as 2006, Putin had already conceived the Russo-Georgian War and communicated it to his staff.
2006: Relations Strained After Litvinenko's Death in London
The end of 2006 brought more strained relations in the wake of the death by polonium poisoning in London of former KGB and FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko.
January 2007: Meeting with Angela Merkel and the Dog Incident
In January 2007, Putin met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his Black Sea residence, bringing his black Labrador Konni despite Merkel's phobia of dogs, causing discomfort and a media furor. He later apologized for not knowing about her phobia.
February 2007: Putin's Munich Speech
In February 2007, Putin criticized the United States' "monopolistic dominance" and "hyper use of force" in international relations, resulting in what became known as the Munich Speech.
December 2007: Russia suspends participation in treaty
On 11 December 2007, Russia suspended its participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty.
2007: CIA's estimate of Putin's wealth
In 2007, the CIA estimated Putin's wealth at $40 billion.
2007: Crisis in Relations Continues with Expulsion of Envoys
In 2007, the crisis in relations between Russia and the UK continued with the expulsion of four Russian envoys over Russia's refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoi in the Litvinenko murder case.
2007: "Dissenters' Marches" and Police Action
In early 2007, "Dissenters' Marches" organized by the opposition group The Other Russia were met by police action in several Russian cities, including interfering with the travel of protesters and arrests.
February 2008: Gazprom Threatens Ukraine with Stoppage of Flow
On 11 February 2008, while Putin addressed the 15th anniversary party of Gazprom, its employees threatened Ukraine with a stoppage of flow.
April 2008: Rumors of Divorce and Engagement
In April 2008, the Moskovsky Korrespondent reported that Putin had divorced Lyudmila and was engaged to marry Alina Kabaeva, though the story was denied.
2008: Putin's warning on Ukraine and NATO
In 2008, at a NATO-Russia summit, Putin warned that Russia might annex eastern Ukraine and Crimea if Ukraine joined NATO, and told George W. Bush that "Ukraine is not even a state!".
2010: Remarks at German Trade Show
In 2010, at a German trade show, Putin remarked that if his hosts did not want Russia's natural gas or nuclear power, they could heat with wood, requiring them to log Siberia.
December 2011: Protests Against Alleged Electoral Fraud
In December 2011, tens of thousands of Russians protested against alleged electoral fraud, marking the largest protests during Putin's time.
2011: Putin Condemns Foreign Military Intervention in Libya
In 2011, Putin condemned the foreign military intervention in Libya, referring to the UN resolution as "defective and flawed" and criticizing the death of Muammar Gaddafi.
2011: Internet Leak of "Putin's Palace" Photographs
In 2011, photographs from inside the palace were leaked onto the Internet.
2011: Putin's Rating Falls to Lowest Since 2000 During Protests
In January 2013, at the time of the 2011–2013 Russian protests, Putin's rating fell to 62%, the lowest since 2000, reflecting public discontent.
2011: Economist Intelligence Unit Rating
Since 2011, The Economist Intelligence Unit has rated Russia as "authoritarian".
March 2012: Putin Wins 2012 Presidential Election
On 4 March 2012, Putin won the 2012 Russian presidential election in the first round, with 63.6% of the vote, amid accusations of vote-rigging.
May 2012: Re-election and Restrictive Laws
Human Rights Watch claims that since May 2012, when Vladimir Putin was reelected as president, Russia has enacted many restrictive laws, started inspections of non-governmental organizations, harassed, intimidated and imprisoned political activists, and started to restrict critics.
June 2012: Putin Opposes Foreign Intervention in Syrian Civil War
In June 2012, in Paris, Putin rejected the statement of French president François Hollande who called on Bashar al-Assad to step down, echoing Assad's argument about anti-regime militants' responsibility.
August 2012: Criticism over Villa Ownership
In August 2012, critics of Putin listed the ownership of 20 villas and palaces, nine of which were built during Putin's time in power.
2012: Crackdown on Liberal Media
According to Maria Lipman, the crackdown that followed Vladimir Putin's return to the Kremlin in 2012 extended to the liberal media.
2012: Alleged Organization of Paramilitary Groups
Between 2005 and 2012, Putin allegedly organized a number of paramilitary groups loyal to himself and to the United Russia party.
2012: Allegations of "Putin's Palace" Construction
In 2012, Sergei Kolesnikov alleged that he was ordered to oversee the building of "Putin's Palace" for Putin's private use.
January 2013: Putin's Rating Falls to Lowest Since 2000 During Protests
In January 2013, at the time of the 2011–2013 Russian protests, Putin's rating fell to 62%, the lowest since 2000, reflecting public discontent.
June 2013: Adoption of Russian Gay Propaganda Law
In June 2013, the Russian gay propaganda law, which is against "homosexual propaganda", was adopted by the State Duma.
2013: Russia Press Freedom Ranking
In 2013, Reporters Without Borders ranked Russia 148 out of 179 countries in terms of freedom of the press.
2013: ICC Investigation of War Crimes in Ukraine
In 2013, The International Criminal Court (ICC) stated that it would investigate possible war crimes in Ukraine since 2013, and the US pledged to help the ICC to prosecute Putin for war crimes.
2013: US Cancels Summit After Putin Grants Asylum to Snowden
In late 2013, Russian-American relations deteriorated after the United States canceled a summit for the first time since 1960, due to Putin granting asylum to Edward Snowden.
February 2014: Putin accuses the West of orchestrating the ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych
In February 2014, Putin stated that the ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was orchestrated by the West, and that the new leaders in Ukraine were "nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes and anti-Semites".
February 2014: Military Incursions into Ukrainian Territory
In February 2014, Russia made several military incursions into Ukrainian territory, including taking control of strategic positions in Crimea.
March 2014: Russia annexes Crimea
Following the Revolution of Dignity, in March 2014, the Russian Federation annexed Crimea, with Putin stating it was because "Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia".
March 2014: Putin cites "Kosovo independence precedent" to justify recognizing the independence of Crimea
In March 2014, Putin used Kosovo's declaration of independence as a justification for recognizing the independence of Crimea, citing the so-called "Kosovo independence precedent".
July 2014: Yukos Shareholders Awarded Compensation
In July 2014, shareholders of Yukos were awarded $50 billion in compensation by the Permanent Arbitration Court in The Hague, underscoring the shift of Russia towards a system of state capitalism.
August 2014: Russian Military Vehicles Cross Border
In August 2014, Russian military vehicles crossed the border in several locations of Donetsk Oblast, leading to the defeat of Ukrainian forces.
August 2014: Putin States Russians and Ukrainians are One People
In late August 2014, Putin stated that the Russian and Ukrainian peoples are practically one people.
2014: Henry Kissinger on Demonization of Putin
In 2014, Henry Kissinger wrote that the West had demonized Putin.
2014: Russia Suspended from G8 After Annexation of Crimea
In 2014, Russia was suspended from the G8 group as a result of its annexation of Crimea. Putin gave a speech highly critical of the United States, accusing them of destabilizing world order.
2014: Deal to Supply China with Natural Gas and Person of the Year for Corruption
In 2014, Vladimir Putin signed a deal to supply China with 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. Also in 2014, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project named Putin their Person of the Year for furthering corruption and organized crime.
2014: Remarks on Homosexual Visitors to the Olympics
In 2014, responding to international concerns about Russia's legislation, Putin stated that homosexual visitors to the 2014 Winter Olympics should "leave the children in peace".
July 2015: Defense of Russia's Sphere of Influence
In July 2015, Andrei Tsygankov opined that Putin was trying to defend nations in Russia's sphere of influence from "encroaching western power".
August 2015: OSCE Observation of Military Vehicles
In early August 2015, the OSCE observed over 21 vehicles marked with the Russian military code for soldiers killed in action.
September 2015: Military Intervention in Syrian Civil War
On 30 September 2015, President Putin authorized Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war, following a formal request by the Syrian government.
December 2015: Admission of Military Intelligence Officers in Ukraine
In December 2015, Putin admitted that Russian military intelligence officers were operating in Ukraine.
December 2015: Putin acknowledges Ukrainian Culture
In late December 2015, after stating that the Russian and Ukrainian peoples are practically one people, Putin stated: "the Ukrainian culture, as well as Ukrainian literature, surely has a source of its own".
2015: Director of the Levada Center stated conclusions from Russian poll results
In 2015 the director of the Levada Center stated that drawing conclusions from Russian poll results was irrelevant, because public opinion is formed by state-controlled media.
2015: Reported Birth of Daughter with Kabaeva
In 2015, Kabaeva reportedly gave birth to a daughter by Putin; this report was denied.
2015: Larry Diamond's Assessment
In 2015, political scientist Larry Diamond stated that "no serious scholar would consider Russia today a democracy".
2015: British Government Launched a Public Inquiry into Litvinenko's Death
In 2015, the British Government launched a public inquiry into Litvinenko's death, presided over by Robert Owen, a former British High Court judge.
January 2016: Owen Report States Putin Likely Approved Litvinenko Murder
On 21 January 2016, the Owen report stated that "The FSB operation to kill Mr. Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr Patrushev and also by President Putin".
April 2016: Panama Papers Leak
In April 2016, the Panama Papers leak revealed that close associates of Putin owned offshore companies worth US$2 billion.
December 2016: Putin Denies Russian Interference in U.S. Election
In December 2016, Putin denied any Russian interference in the U.S. election.
December 2016: US Intelligence Alleges Putin Approved Cyber Attacks During U.S. Election
In December 2016, US intelligence officials stated that Putin approved the email hacking and cyber attacks during the U.S. election against Hillary Clinton, which was denied by Putin's spokesman.
2016: Alexei Navalny's Description
In 2016, Alexei Navalny described Putin as the "Tsar of corruption".
2016: Legislation Prohibiting Missionary Activity
In 2016, Vladimir Putin oversaw the passage of legislation that prohibited missionary activity in Russia.
2016: Key Information Passed About Putin's Involvement
In 2016, a CIA source passed key information in 2016 about Putin's direct involvement, allowing the source to pass key information in 2016 about Putin's direct involvement.
January 2017: U.S. Intelligence Assessment on Election Interference
In January 2017, a U.S. intelligence community assessment expressed high confidence that Putin personally ordered an influence campaign to harm Hillary Clinton's electoral chances.
March 2017: Putin Denies Russian Interference in U.S. Election
In March 2017, Putin denied any Russian interference in the U.S. election.
June 2017: Putin Denies Russian Interference in U.S. Election
In June 2017, Putin denied any Russian interference in the U.S. election.
July 2017: Putin Denies Russian Interference in U.S. Election
In July 2017, Putin denied any Russian interference in the U.S. election.
2017: Putin criticizes violence in Myanmar
In 2017, Putin criticized violence in Myanmar against Rohingya minorities.
2017: Poll Indicates Putin Held Responsible for High-Level Corruption
Newsweek reported in 2017 that a poll indicated that 67% held Putin personally responsible for high-level corruption, highlighting a significant problem in Russia.
March 2018: Sergei Skripal Poisoned with Novichok Nerve Agent
On 4 March 2018, former double agent Sergei Skripal was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, leading to accusations against the Russian state.
July 2018: CIA's Russian Source
In July 2018, The New York Times reported that the CIA had long nurtured a Russian source who eventually rose to a position close to Putin, allowing the source to pass key information in 2016 about Putin's direct involvement.
October 2018: Decline in Putin's Popularity
In October 2018, a survey indicated that two-thirds of Russians believed that "Putin bears full responsibility for the problems of the country". This decline has been attributed to dwindling faith in the traditional Russian attitude of blaming lower officials for the failures of the leadership.
October 2018: Remarks on Nuclear War
On 18 October 2018, Putin said Russians will 'go to Heaven as martyrs' in the event of a nuclear war as he would only use nuclear weapons in retaliation.
December 2018: Autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
In December 2018, with the attainment of autocephaly by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, experts concluded that Putin's forceful engagement in post-Soviet republics backfired, leading to the loss of Ukraine and caution from other post-Soviet countries.
2018: Forbes on Putin's Actions
In 2018, Forbes wrote that "Putin's actions are those of a dictator... As a leader with failing public support, he can only remain in power by using force and repression that gets worse by the day".
January 2019: Historic Low in Trust for Putin
In January 2019, Putin's trust rating among Russians reached a historic low of 33%. Support among young Russians aged 17-25 was even lower, at 32%.
April 2019: Record Number of Russians Willing to Emigrate
An April 2019 Gallup poll showed a record 20% of Russians were willing to permanently emigrate from Russia. The decline was even larger in the 17–25 age group, "who find themselves largely disconnected from the country's aging leadership, nostalgic Soviet rhetoric and nepotistic agenda".
September 2019: Interference in Regional Elections
In September 2019, Putin's administration interfered with the results of Russia's nationwide regional elections, inciting mass protests.
2019: Reported Birth of Twin Sons with Kabaeva
In 2019, Kabaeva reportedly gave birth to twin sons by Putin.
April 2020: Putin Prolongs Non-Working Time and Addresses COVID-19
In April 2020, Putin extended the non-working period until April 30 due to COVID-19, comparing Russia's fight against the virus to historical battles. A Levada poll from April 24-27, 2020, showed 48% of Russians disapproved of Putin's handling of the pandemic.
May 2020: Putin's Approval Rating During COVID Crisis
In May 2020, amid the COVID crisis, Putin's approval rating was 68% when respondents were presented a list of names (closed question), and 27% when respondents were expected to name politicians they trust (open question).
June 2020: Political Prisoners in Russia
As of June 2020, per Memorial Human Rights Center, there were 380 political prisoners in Russia, including 63 individuals prosecuted for political activities and 245 prosecuted for their involvement with banned Muslim organizations.
July 2020: Putin Changes Constitution to Extend Presidency
In July 2020, Putin signed an executive order, officially inserting amendments into the Russian Constitution, allowing him to run for two additional six-year terms. These amendments took effect on July 4, 2020.
July 2020: Khabarovsk Krai Protests and Public Support
In July 2020, protests in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, supporting arrested governor Sergei Furgal, gained traction and became increasingly anti-Putin. A July 2020 Levada poll indicated 45% of surveyed Russians supported these protests.
November 2020: Allegation of Another Daughter
In November 2020, an investigation alleged that Putin has another daughter, Elizaveta, with Svetlana Krivonogikh.
December 2020: Low Support Among Young Russians
In December 2020, Putin's support among Russians aged 18–24 was only 20%, indicating a generational divide in the perception of his rule.
2020: Belton's Account of KGB Involvement
In 2020, Catherine Belton wrote about Putin's alleged involvement in KGB coordination and support for the terrorist Red Army Faction.
2020: Continued Attempts to Interfere in U.S. Election
In 2020, Putin continued similar attempts in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
2020: Law on Foreign Agents
In 2020, Vladimir Putin signed a law on labeling individuals and organizations receiving funding from abroad as "foreign agents".
2020: Definition of Marriage in the Constitution
In 2020, Vladimir Putin supported the Russian constitutional referendum, which passed and defined marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman in the Constitution of Russia.
2020: Constitutional Reference to God
One of the 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia, under Vladimir Putin's leadership, has a constitutional reference to God.
January 2021: Navalny's Investigation of "Putin's Palace"
In January 2021, Alexei Navalny published a video investigation accusing Putin of using fraudulently obtained funds to build an estate for himself.
May 2021: Putin's Popularity in Moscow and Beyond
In May 2021, 33% of Moscow respondents indicated Putin in response to "who would you vote for this weekend?", while 40% outside Moscow indicated the same.
July 2021: Putin publishes article on Russian and Ukrainian Unity
In July 2021, Putin published an article 'On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians', stating that a Ukrainian state hostile to Moscow was comparable to "the use of weapons of mass destruction against us".
July 2021: Putin Publishes Essay on Unity of Russians and Ukrainians
In July 2021, Putin published an essay titled "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians," asserting that Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Russians should form one All-Russian nation, denying Ukraine's independent national existence.
November 2021: The Economist on Putin's Shift
In November 2021, The Economist noted that Putin had "shifted from autocracy to dictatorship".
November 2021: Distrust of Putin Linked to Vaccine Hesitancy
Polls conducted in November 2021, following the failed Russian COVID-19 vaccination campaign, indicated that distrust of Putin was a major factor for vaccine hesitancy, with regional polls indicating numbers as low as 20–30% in the Volga Federal District.
February 2022: Invasion of Ukraine
In February 2022, during his fourth presidential term, Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to international condemnation and sanctions.
February 2022: Support for "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine
In late February 2022, a survey showed that 59% of respondents supported the "special military operation" in Ukraine, but among 18-to-24-year-olds, only 29% supported it.
February 2022: Putin Recognizes Separatist Republics and Addresses Ukraine
On February 21, 2022, Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of self-proclaimed separatist republics in Donbas and delivered an address regarding events in Ukraine.
March 2022: Removed from Positions in International Judo Federation
In March 2022, Putin was removed from all positions in the International Judo Federation (IJF) due to the Russian war in Ukraine.
March 2022: Public Sentiment on the "Special Military Operation"
In mid-March 2022, two polls showed that 71% of Russians supported the "special military operation" in Ukraine.
September 2022: Annexation of Ukrainian Oblasts
In September 2022, Putin announced a partial mobilization and forcibly annexed four Ukrainian oblasts into Russia, escalating the conflict.
December 2022: Putin Acknowledges "Long Process" in War Against Ukraine
In December 2022, Putin acknowledged that the war against Ukraine could be a "long process."
December 2022: Putin calls the fighting in Ukraine a "war"
On 22 December 2022, Putin referred to the fighting in Ukraine as a "war" and on 25 December 2022, he stated that the goal of the invasion is to "unite the Russian people".
2022: Data unavailable since before invasion of Ukraine.
As of 2024, due to reporting military emissions being voluntary, no data is available since before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
2022: World Leaders Condemn Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leaders from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands condemned Putin's actions and the invasion.
2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine and Media Control
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, state-controlled TV presented the invasion as a "special military operation" and liberation mission. Roskomnadzor ordered the country's media to employ information only from state sources, banning the words "war", "invasion", or "aggression".
2022: Increased Political Repressions After Launching Full-Scale War with Ukraine
In 2022, Putin increased political repressions after launching his full-scale war with Ukraine.
2022: Swiss Media Report on Kabaeva's Births
In 2022, Swiss media reported that Kabaeva gave birth to a boy on both occasions.
2022: Revocation of Honorary Doctorates
In 2022, some organizations revoked honorary doctorates and other awards given to Putin in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
2022: Beginning of the Special Military Operation
In 2022, the "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine began without preparation, according to Putin's later reflections.
2022: New Law on "False Information" and Conditions for Ending Invasion
In March 2022, Putin signed a law introducing prison sentences for publishing "knowingly false information" about the Russian military. The Kremlin demanded Ukraine's neutrality and recognition of Crimea and separatist republics as conditions for ending the invasion.
February 2023: Putin Suspends Russia's Participation in New START Treaty
On 21 February 2023, Vladimir Putin suspended Russia's participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States, escalating tensions.
March 2023: Xi Jinping Visits Russia Amidst ICC Warrant
In March 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russia and met with Putin, marking Putin's first international meeting since the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest.
March 2023: ICC Arrest Warrant
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes related to illegal child abductions during the war in Ukraine.
June 2023: Wagner Group Rebellion Against Russian Government
On June 23, 2023, the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization, rebelled against the government of Russia amidst tensions between the Russian Ministry of Defense and Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
July 2023: Putin Threatens Reciprocal Action and Withdraws from Grain Deal
In July 2023, Putin threatened "reciprocal action" if Ukraine used US-supplied cluster munitions and withdrew from the Black Sea grain export deal, risking a global food crisis.
August 2023: Casualties in Russo-Ukrainian War Reach Nearly 500,000
As of August 2023, the total number of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers killed or wounded during the invasion was nearly 500,000.
August 2023: Prigozhin Killed in Plane Crash
On August 23, 2023, exactly two months after the rebellion, Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed along with nine others in a plane crash in Tver Oblast. It is widely suspected that the Russian state were involved.
September 2023: Limited Active Support for the War in Ukraine
In September 2023, the head of the VTsIOM state pollster stated that only 10–15% of Russians actively supported the war in Ukraine, indicating that "most Russians are not demanding the conquest of Kyiv or Odesa".
December 2023: Netanyahu Expresses Displeasure to Putin over Russia's Conduct at the UN and Growing Ties to Iran
In a December 2023 call, Benjamin Netanyahu expressed displeasure to Putin, over Russia's conduct at the UN and described its growing ties to Iran as dangerous.
December 2023: Putin Sets Aims for Peace in Ukraine
On 14 December 2023, Putin said, "there will only be peace in Ukraine when we achieve our aims", which he said are "de-Nazification, de-militarization and a neutral status" of Ukraine.
2023: Der Spiegel Investigation
In 2023, Der Spiegel published an investigation discrediting the anonymous source claiming Putin's involvement with the Red Army Faction.
September 2024: Putin Warns West of Nuclear Retaliation
On 25 September 2024, Putin warned the West that if attacked with conventional weapons Russia would consider a nuclear retaliation, in an apparent deviation from the no first use doctrine.
2024: Putin Expresses Regret on Timing of Special Military Operation
During the 2024 Year-End Review, President Putin expressed regret for not launching the "Special Military Operation" at the same time as the annexation of Crimea and with more preparation.
2024: Putin's Recent Election
In the most recent 2024 Russian presidential election, Putin achieved 88% of the popular vote. There were reports of irregularities at this election, including ballot stuffing and coercion.
2024: Putin Wins 2024 Russian Presidential Election
Putin won the 2024 Russian presidential election with 88.48% of the vote. International observers did not consider the election to be either free or fair.
