Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit France on Thursday at the invitation of his French counterpart Francois Fillon, the Russian government's press service said.

Outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin held his last Cabinet meeting as head of state on Monday, as his eight-year rule entered its final week.

The Russian website and newspaper Moskovsky Korrespondent has been closed today after it broke the news that the Russian President Vladimir Putin Secretly divorsed his wife and is getting ready to get married with a gymnastic beauty Russian gymnast Alina Kabayeva.

Vladimir Putin rejected the rumours about his alleged divorce and a wedding with rhythmical gymnast Alina Kabaeva. Putin released the statement during a press conference with Silvio Berlusconi, which took place Friday in the residence of the would-be Italian Prime Minister in Sardinia.

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has agreed to head the ruling United Russia Party, whose members voted unanimously in his favor.

The session of the 9th Congress of Russia’s ruling party United Russia lasted for only 45 minutes. Outgoing President Vladimir Putin and President Elect Dmitry Medvedev took part in the meeting.

The United Russia Party holds a convention this week and is expected to ask outgoing Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to head the organization, which controls parliament and can check any presidential attempt to remove the prime minister.

U.S. President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin failed to overcome their differences on missile defense at their final summit in south Russia on Sunday. However; Russian President-elect Dmitry Medvedev told U.S. President George Bush on Sunday that maintaining good relations between the countries is a key factor for international security.

George W Bush has said that he will meet with the president of Russia Vladimir Putin next week in Russia to try to break a logjam between the two nations over a proposed US missile defense system.

Dmitri Medvedev, 42, officially becomes president of Russia on May 7. He will succeed Vladimir Putin, who has led the country for eight years. But Mr. Putin will not leave the political scene - Mr. Medvedev has promised to name him prime minister.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart George W Bush have discussed an upcoming NATO-Russia summit in a telephone conversation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged citizens to actively take part in this Sunday's presidential elections that many observers see as an easy victory for his handpicked successor.