Vladimir Putin

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Russian President Vladimir Putin

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FILE - In this Friday Dec. 23, 2016 file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia. Putin has declared a nationwide day of mourning for victims of the crash of a Russian plane with 92 people aboard that fell into the Black Sea. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, file)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Putin expressed hope that he would meet soon with Trump to discuss how to improve the two countries' relations. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Putin says U.S. Democrats should have apologized to American voters over the information revealed by hackers who posted Democratic National Committee e-mails. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, attend the talks at a summit with the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and France at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016.(Mikhail Klimentyev/Pool Photo via AP)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin grimaces as he attends the Business Russia Congress in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016. Putin said that Russia would offer more freedom to private business to help offset the impact of Western sanctions.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, pool)

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Illustration on the influence of Vladimir Putin on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

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Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an exchange of agreements' ceremony in the beach resort state of Goa in western India, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. Leaders of India and Russia on Saturday began their annual talks that concluded with new defense deals and the smoothing over of recent irritants in their decades-long close relationship. Modi and Putin also discussed regional security issues and the threat posed by global terrorism. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

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Worldly Ambitions of Vladimir Putin Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

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Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he speaks during an awarding ceremony for Russia's Olympians in Moscow's Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday attacked the ban on his country from the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics as immoral and inhumane. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

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Donald Trump said that he wouldn't be a pushover as U.S. president in dealing with the Russian president Vladimir Putin.

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Russia's President Vladimir Putin reacts during his joint press conference with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto at Kultaranta summer residence in Naantali, Finland, Friday, July 1, 2016. President Putin is in Finland on a working visit to discuss both bilateral issues and topical international issues. ( Jussi Nukari/ Lehtikuva via AP)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he addresses students during his visit to German Embassy school in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 29, 2016. Putin has offered his condolences to Turkey which was hit by suicide attacks on Tuesday, killing dozens at Istanbul's airport. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, pool)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the Russian monastery St. Panteleimon at Karyes, on Mount Athos, Greece, Saturday, May 28, 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited an Orthodox Christian monastery on the northern Greek peninsula of Mount Athos on Saturday and took part in celebrating 1,000 years of Russian presence in Mt. Athos. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin walks in Moscow's Kremlin, Russia on Thursday, March 17, 2016. President Vladimir Putin says Russia can again build up its forces in Syria “in a few hours” if necessary, and will continue striking extremist groups. Putin made the statement in the Kremlin Thursday while honoring Russian military officers who have taken part in the Syrian campaign. (Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses members of the military in Moscow's Kremlin, Russia on Thursday, March 17, 2016. President Vladimir Putin says Russia can again build up its forces in Syria “in a few hours” if necessary, and will continue striking extremist groups. Putin made the statement in the Kremlin Thursday while honoring Russian military officers who have taken part in the Syrian campaign. (Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses a regional meeting of pro-Kremlin United Peoples' Front in Stavropol, on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Putin has said that the Russian air campaign in Syria will last for as long as it's necessary to support the Syrian army's offensive. During a meeting with students on a visit to Stavropol in southern Russia, he said Moscow's goal is to help Damascus defeat "terrorists." (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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Asked by a reporter about Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin called him a "standout, talented person, without any doubt." "It is not up to us to assess his qualities," Mr. Putin added, "but he is the absolute leader of the presidential race." (Associated Press)

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Illustration on a change in attitude to deal with Vladimir Putin by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

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Russian President Vladimir Putin gives his annual state of the nation address in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. Putin says Russian military in Syria has been fighting for Russia's security. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) ** FILE **