German and Russian leaders are holding talks in Wiesbaden, Germany, at a time when Moscow and the European Union disagree on several critical issues, including Kosovo and energy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will go ahead with a planned visit to Tehran, Iran's Foreign Ministry said, despite a Russian news agency report that a plot was being prepared to assassinate him there.

President Vladimir Putin said Monday that he would lead the dominant United Russia party's candidate list in December parliamentary elections and later could become the premier.

The murky politics of Vladimir Putin's Kremlin became even more puzzling as the Russian president named an obscure official, Viktor Zubkov, as prime minister.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dissolved the Russian government on the request of the prime minister. The dissolution is expected to result in a new head of government, who will be seen as Putin's choice to succeed him after he steps down next spring.

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, accepted today a request from Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov to dismiss the government and form a new Cabinet in Russia.

George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin are to discuss U.S. plans for anti-missile technology in Europe at an September 8-9 Asia-Pacific leaders' summit in Sydney, a Russian presidential aide said Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed criticism of his decision to withdraw from a key arms control treaty, saying the pact was outdated.

President Vladimir Putin said Britain's demand that Russia amend its Constitution to extradite a suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko shows the country retains a colonialist mentality.

Deputy Prosecutor General of Russia Alexander Zvyagintsev stated in press conference that the evidence is insufficient to begin a case against Lugovoi, a businessman and former special services officer, in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says relations with Britain will develop normally despite what he called a "minicrisis" between London and Moscow. Putin's comments on July 19 came after Russia announced it would expel four British diplomats in response to Britain's decision earlier this week to send home four Russian diplomats.

President Vladimir Putin, in a statement marking U.S. Independence Day, said he was certain relations with the country would progress despite disagreements.