Now playing Next Egypt Kalashnikov diplomacy: Putin offers unusual gift on Egypt visit to boost trade ties Day two of President Putin’s visit to Egypt continued with as much fanfare on Tuesday, as President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi rolled out more red carpet 10/02/2015
Now playing Next Ukraine Fighting intensifies in Ukraine in run-up to Wednesday's peace talks in Minsk Pro- Russian rebels are said to be closing in on the Ukrainian town of Debaltseve. Fighting on Monday left nine Ukrainian troops and seven civilians 10/02/2015
Now playing Next Egypt Putin blames West for Ukraine crisis during trade visit to Egypt Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the US and the European Union for what he called their “expansionist policies” for the crisis in Ukraine 10/02/2015
Now playing Next Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel and Hollande to meet in Minsk Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France to meet in Minsk on Wednesday, February 11, to discuss an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. 09/02/2015
Now playing Next Belarus Leaders agree four-way talks on Ukraine crisis in Minsk on Wednesday German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin will get 08/02/2015
Now playing Next Russia Merkel and Hollande hold urgent talks with Putin in Moscow It was described as a last-ditch effort to negotiate a peace deal for Ukraine. 06/02/2015
Now playing Next Culture news Meet Putin's favourite DJ Meet Vladimir Putin’s favourite DJ. Alex Mamonov, a.k.a. DJ Fenix, is the hottest electronic dance music DJ in Russia today. More than a decade 04/02/2015
Now playing Next Poland Poland snubs Putin over Auschwitz anniversary Russian President Vladimir Putin is not expected to attend Holocaust commemorations in Poland later this month as he apparently hasn’t been invited 13/01/2015
Now playing Next Russia Russians optimistic for New Year despite looming recession The lights of Russia’s economy are burning brightly but as the country heads into recession, many are choosing to stay at home rather than spend 01/01/2015
Now playing Next Russia Crimea's 'return home' shows love for motherland, says Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his new year address that the Crimean peninsula’s “return home” to Moscow’s control is an important chapter 31/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Kremlin critic detained at rally held in protest over sentence against him A critic of the Kremlin is detained at a Moscow rally held to protest against his suspended jail sentence 30/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Alexei Navalny, scourge of Russia's corrupt elite In his recent annual address Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted anyone was free to enter politics in Russia. Well, tell that to Alexei 30/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Kremlin protest planned after blogger given suspended sentence A critic of the Kremlin has been found guilty of fraud and given a suspended jail term by a court in Moscow 30/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Putin critic Alexei Navalny given suspended prison sentence Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been given a suspended sentence of three and a half years. His brother Oleg has been jailed for three and a half 30/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Gazprom to buy other half of South Stream pipeline Russian energy giant Gazprom has agreed to buy the 50 percent of the South Stream gas pipeline it doesn’t already own. That’s despite Russian 30/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Putin orders freeze on vodka prices The Russian president has ordered a freeze on vodka prices amid an escalating economic crisis. During a meeting Putin told government officials that 25/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Presidents of Central Asian states meet for security talks in Moscow The presidents of five Central Asian states have met at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow for talks on security. Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan 23/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Divided opinion in Russia after Putin's end-of-year address In Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, pro-Russian separatists watched President Putin’s end-of-year speech on a TV set in a canteen. One soldier said 19/12/2014
Now playing Next Russia Putin tries to reassure over rouble worries, but also slams the West He attempted to reassure the Russian people about the state of their economy under his leadership. But a defiant President Vladimir Putin also took 18/12/2014
Now playing Next Business Putin upbeat on Russian economy but doesn't say how or when it will recover Russia’s economic problems drew a slew of questions at President Vladimir Putin’s end-of-year news conference. Blaming external factors for the 18/12/2014