Russia

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Talks on Tuesday during the U.N. General Assembly between Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about Syria's chemical weapons were described as "constructive," diplomatic-speak for cautious optimism. (Associated Press)

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In this photo provided by Queer Nation NY, anti-Putin protestors demonstrate in front of the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center in New York, where the Met held its season-opening gala featuring soprano Anna Netrebko and conductor Valery Gergiev, two longtime supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin, who has upheld anti-gay laws passed by the Russian legislature, has denied that homosexuals face discrimination in Russia and said the law does not infringe on their rights. (Associated Press/Scott Wooledge, Queer Nation NY)

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Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, talks with Michael Latta, right, during the first period an NHL preseason hockey game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov (81), of Russia, chases the puck against Chicago Blackhawks right wing Jimmy Hayes (22) during the first period an NHL preseason hockey game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin's much ballyhooed New York Times op-ed condemning U.S. intervention in Syria and American "exceptionalism" was actually placed in the newspaper by a public relations giant that has been around for 90 years. (Associated Press)

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Traditional Russian matryoshka wooden dolls depicting President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin are on display in St. Petersburg on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, during the G-20 summit of world leaders. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

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** FILE ** President Barack participates in a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia at the Esperanza Resort in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico, June 18, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, shakes hands with U.N. Joint Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, center, next to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, during a press conference after their meeting at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, Sept. 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini)