Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur

Politics are being played out in the world that are aiming to divide Russians and Ukrainians, who are virtually "the same people", Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

BELGRADE -Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Chepurin has said that Serbia and Russia should
hold a joint news conference, dedicated to the centenary of the beginning of World War I, in Belgrade on May 5-6.

A delegation of the Russian State Duma led by Speaker Sergey Naryshkin will take part in the conference, Chepurin told Itar-Tass.

Putin and Obama urge each other to "use their influence"

WASHINGTON, MOSCOW -- U.S. President Barack Obama appealed on Russian President Vladimir Putin to convince "pro-Russian groups" in eastern Ukraine to lay down their arms.

As announced by the White House, Obama last night held a telephone conversation with Putin.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic conferred on Thursday with the Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Chepurin and restated Serbia's neutral position on the situation in Ukraine, while Chepurin noted that Russia appreciates the friendship and the principled stance of Serbia.

President reiterates neutral stance on Ukraine

BELGRADE -- President Tomislav Nikolić has conferred with Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin "and restated Serbia's neutral position on the situation in Ukraine."

Chepurin noted during the meeting held on Thursday that Russia "appreciates the friendship and the principled stance of Serbia."

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified on Wednesday the Russian-Serbian agreement on the status of military cemeteries, which created the legal basis for the maintenance of Russian military cemeteries, monuments and memorials in the territory of Serbia, the Kremlin website released.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama have discussed the situation in Ukraine over an hour-long phone call.

The phone call was made by Putin, during Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia on Friday, the BBC reveals.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval rating has reached a new historic maximum of 82.3% in end-March, according to an independent pollster.

The majority of Russians believe the country is heading in the right direction, results of a sociological survey conducted by the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center showed, cited by Itar-Tass news agency.

Germany could be the EU member state to suffer the most from sanctions imposed on Russia.

Data in an article posted on German newspaper Die Welt's website suggests that economic measures against Russia would be dangerous not only for Germany's energy security, but also for its car industry and its retail.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the law ratifying the incorporation of Crimea into the Russian Federation.