Vladimir V Putin

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin called his critics foreign-funded jackals and accused the West of meddling in Russian politics in a scathing speech meant to drum up support for the main pro-Kremlin party. Russia's Dec. 2 parliamentary elections have turned into a plebiscite on Putin and whether he should retain power when he steps down as president next year after two consecutive terms.

President Vladimir V. Putin dismissed six generals from their positions in the Defense Ministry, a Kremlin spokeswoman said. A defense analyst said the generals controlled logistics and procurement and were several steps removed from top command positions but may have been ousted in connection with a feud between top commanders.

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, visiting one of the U.S. government's traditional archenemies, Cuba, said Friday that he was optimistic about future Washington-Moscow ties under President-elect George W. Bush. "Currently we have no special grounds to worry about the fate of Russian-American relations," Putin said on the second full day of his visit to the Communist-ruled Caribbean island.

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin said in an interview with London's Financial Times that he expects the United States to consult Moscow before taking the "war on terrorism" beyond Afghanistan. He was quoted in today's edition as saying the top priority should be blocking the financing of terrorism, and he specifically warned against military action in Iraq. There are growing signs that the United States may consider expanding its anti-terrorism offensive to Iraq.

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin promised Saturday to help Moldova resolve a dispute over a breakaway, Russian-speaking enclave and affirmed his support for the territorial integrity of this impoverished former Soviet republic. The Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking populations of the Trans-Dniester region declared independence in 1990, fearing that the Romanian-speaking leadership of the newly independent country would reunite with neighboring Romania.

Russian tax authorities filed lawsuits demanding the liquidation of the private media company Media-Most, officials said Friday, as the company's beleaguered chief, Vladimir A. Gusinsky, sought bail from a Spanish jail. The civil suits submitted by Tax Inspectorate officials to the Moscow Arbitration Court demanded the dissolution of Media-Most and its flagship NTV television for insolvency, a court spokesman said. NTV is the country's only private nationwide channel.

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin evoked one of the most dangerous confrontations of the Cold War to highlight Russian opposition to a proposed U.S. missile defense system in Europe, comparing it to the Cuban missile crisis of 45 years ago. Putin used a news conference at the conclusion of a Portugal summit with the European Union to reiterate Russia's objections to U.S.

President Vladimir V. Putin made a trip to the separatist republic of Chechnya, flying by helicopter to the site of one of the Russian forces' heaviest losses to dramatize the Kremlin's commitment to fighting the rebels to the end. Russia will use all necessary force to eliminate the rebels, Putin said, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. Putin also said he came to discuss the financing of federal forces in the region.

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin on Monday stripped many duties from his top economic advisor, an outspoken critic who has accused the Kremlin of trying to muzzle voices of dissent in Russia. Andrei Illarionov will no longer be Russia's envoy to the Group of 8 industrial nations, the Kremlin said. Another Putin aide, Igor Shuvalov, was given Illarionov's duties, which typically involve preparations for G-8 summit and meetings. The Kremlin gave no reason for the shift in responsibilities.

President Bush predicted Friday that Iran would be called to account before the United Nations Security Council over its nuclear program. After a meeting with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, an ally of both the United States and Iran, Bush said, "When that referral will happen is a matter of diplomacy. And that's what we talked about; we talked about how to deal with this situation diplomatically." The U.N.