Vladimir Putin

Describing it as the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe" of the 20th century, he also devoted much of the address to reassuring skittish investors about the economic climate, two days before the ruling in the tax evasion and fraud trial of oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Putin, who has resurrected some communist symbols, avoided mentioning the need to work more closely with other former Soviet republics.

His popularity was dented over the past year by protests over social security reforms and unsuccessful attempts to head off a popular uprising in the ex-Soviet republic of Ukraine.

Putin set off on a Mideast tour April 26, becoming the first Soviet or Russian leader to visit Egypt in 40 years.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 30, 2005
(C) All rights reserved