Indeed, Mr Putin's military deployments signal that he will not let the Assad regime fall.
On Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on Syria with his French counterpart Francois Hollande.
Mr Putin has accused the NGOs of meddling in politics on behalf of foreign powers.
Meeting with Van der Veer in the Hague last November, Putin reportedly criticized the cost escalation.
Mr Putin has hinted that more state companies will, sooner or later, be privatised.
But if he is secure at home, Mr Putin is on shakier ground abroad.
In St Petersburg on Wednesday President Putin handed out the first batch of golden medals.
That should not stop Mr Putin winning a second term, if he wants one, in 2004.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has set the target of doubling the country's GDP in 10 years.
Putin did not say whether Khodorkovsky and Lebedev would be included in the amnesty.
As Mr Putin has said, Russia should present a smiling face to the world.
Mr Putin said this would go ahead, but only on a strictly mutual basis.
Putin has shown a lack of interested in joining the general fight against Islamic extremism.
Putin thanked the United States for helping Russia join the World Trade Organization last December.
"I consider it quite correct to make changes to the appropriate documents, " Mr Putin replied.
Putin has said repeatedly that new calls for nationalization could be detrimental to Russia.
FORBES: After Russian Election, Deregulation A Priority, Official Says
Since Mr Putin's re-election last March, legal action against opposition figures has increased markedly.
Mr Depardieu was granted Russian citizenship by a decree signed by Mr Putin on 3 January.
Since Mr Putin's re-election in March 2011, legal action against opposition figures has increased markedly.
Every now and then Putin likes to show the world that he has a human side.
Russian President Vladimir Putin insists there are no plans to reverse the results of Yeltsin-era privatization.
What do Hugo Chavez, Vladimir Putin, Dominique de Villepin and Lou Dobbs have in common?
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a Russian law barring Americans from adopting Russian orphans.
Putin plays upon these nationalist feelings to try to get support for Russian resurgence today.
Russian president Vladimir Putin quickly lambasted the deal, saying that Russia should have been consulted first.
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Thatcher has spent more time at the opera, while Putin has dabbled in painting.
Also at the G-8 today, Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unexpected proposal on missile descents.
Putin later became president of Russia in 2000 and was re-elected four years later.
Germany's Gerhard Schroeder was travelling to Moscow on Wednesday for talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Putin said the West should have cooperated more actively with Russia in combatting terror.
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