On 22 February his government protested President Vladimir Putin's recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and the Luhansk 'People's Republics' backing Ukraine's sovereignty and called on Russia to withdraw from Crimea too...

He added that Russia's President Vladimir Putin had reassured him that the negotiations with Ukraine were progressing...

Its position is complicated by the growing role of the Wagner Group whose chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is known to be close to Russia's President Vladimir Putin...

They first showed Vladimir Putin that they deserved greater consideration and support for confirming their friendship when Moscow is increasingly isolated...

President Vladimir Putin's first visit to Africa in 2006 launched Moscow's renewed push for economic and security ties with the continent...

The close relations between Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russia's President Vladimir Putin have raised the geopolitical stakes of the group's operations in Africa and its ties to military regimes in the region...

Col Goïta's regime exploits local resentment of sanctions to stir up anger against the bloc but has been welcoming the arrival of Russian forces and probably despite denials as many as 1 000 mercenaries from the Wagner Group headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin a close associate of Russia's President Vladimir Putin (AC Vol 63 No 2 War dogs' old tricks)...

Wagner Group Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin a close associate of Russia's President Vladimir Putin tweeted on 24 January that the coup in Burkina Faso represented a 'new era of decolonisation' a direct reference to declining French influence in the region...

President Vladimir Putin's government is organising the second Russia-Africa summit in St...

MOSCOW'S DIPLOMACY AND SECURITY SERVICES IN QUESTION However successful the Africa-Russia summit in St Petersburg President Vladimir Putin faces three crucial long-term challenges...