Moscow theater hostage crisis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since the Ukraine crisis began in late 2013.

World leaders gather June 6 to mark 70 years since the historic D-Day invasion of France that hastened the end of World War II, against a backdrop of intense diplomacy over the Ukraine crisis.

World leaders urged Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to stop destabilising Ukraine or face further sanctions as they met without a Russian president for the first time since the 1990s.
      
Putin reached out a hand despite being banned from the Group of Seven summit following Russia's annexation of Crimea in March, saying that he was ready to meet Ukraine's president-elect.

Marine Le Pen , leader of France's far-right National Front party, has argued that Europe is responsible for the events in Ukraine.

Ukraine said Tuesday it had recaptured the airport in the eastern city of Donetsk after deadly battles with pro-Moscow rebels, while EU leaders urged Russia to work with the country's new president.
      
Caught up in the drama in Donetsk were a team of international monitors with the OSCE who have gone missing after being detained at a checkpoint.
      

Russia and China have marked "substantial progress" in talks over a deal which would secure one-fourth of China's gas supplies, Kremlin officials told Russian media.

Negotiations come as Russian President Vladimir Putin is on a visit to China for an international forum, but is also meeting Xi Jingping and explore ways to boost cooperation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that 40 000 soldiers pull back from the border with Ukraine, the country's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported.

Ukraine's president "won't be completely legitimate"

MOSCOW -- The president that Ukrainians will elect on May 25 "will not be completely legitimate," Russian State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin has said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to the recently-annexed Crimean peninsula was condemned by EU, US and NATO officials. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has flown to the Crimean Peninsula, which was absorded by Russia from Ukraine, as part of Victory Day celebrations.

It is the first time the President goes to Crimea after it became part of the Russian Federation following a local referendum.