Vladimir Putin (22 images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin skies down a slope at the Krasnaya Polyana skiing center, outside the Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 5, 2008, the place for winter Olympics 2014. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting in Athens on September 4, 2006. Leaders of Russia, Greece and Bulgaria agreed to provide greater support toward a stalled 280-kilometre (174-mile) pipeline project to carry Russian oil from Bulgaria to Greece. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)

L to R: U.S. First Lady Laura Bush, U.S. President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila greet journalists before their meeting in Strelna, in the outskirts of St. Petersburg on July 14, 2006. Bush is visiting Russia to attend G8 summit this weekend. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) smiles as Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to journalists following their meeting at the presidential residence near the Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 21, 2007. Merkel said she and Putin supported the so-called "Quartet" of international mediators launching a new drive to revive the Middle East peace process. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)