Moscow

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As the prospect grows that Damascus could fall to the Islamic State or another extremist faction — or some combustible combination of the two — officials say the hope is that Moscow and Tehran might suddenly open to Washington's yearslong attempt to assemble a "moderate opposition" against Syrian strongman Bashar Assad. (Associated Press)

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Head of the Federal Customs Service Andrei Belyaninov, left, and Vladimir Putin's aide, Yury Ushakov, seen during a Putin-chaired meeting of officials in Moscow, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Pool)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, June 16, 2015. (Alexander Nemenov/Pool Photo via AP)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for the opening of the Army-2015 international military show in Kubinka, outside Moscow, on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. (Vasily Maximov/AFP pool photo via AP) ** FILE **

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Russian army bombers fly over Grand Kremlin Palace during a Victory Parade rehearsal in Moscow. (Associated Press)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, in this May 28, 2015, file photo. (Sergei Karpukhin/File-Pool Photo via AP) ** FILE **

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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony of presentation of credentials by foreign ambassadors in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, May 28, 2015. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony of presentation of credentials by foreign ambassadors in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, May 28, 2015. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

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Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he speaks at the 10th business forum "Business Russia" in Moscow on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin attend a meeting of the Victory Day celebrations organizing committee in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, in this March 17, 2015, file photo. (Alexei Druzhinin/RIA Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, in Red Square, Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchange documents at the signing ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, Friday, May 8, 2015. Russian and Chinese leaders have signed a plethora of deals in Moscow, giving Russia billions in infrastructure loans. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

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New Russian military vehicles including the new Russian T-14 Armata tank, foreground, make their way to Red Square during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade which will take place at Moscow's Red Square on May 9 to celebrate 70 years after the victory in WWII, in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 4, 2015. Russia's new Armata tank has appeared in public for the first time, rumbling down a broad Moscow avenue on its way to Red Square for the Victory Day parade's final rehearsal. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, greets former U.S. president Jimmy Carter and former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, right, as he meets with members of the Elders group in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 29, 2015. (Sergei Karpukhin/Pool Photo via AP)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorized a string of provocative moves from the Arctic to the Black Sea in recent months in an attempt to intimidate NATO allies along the border for the old Soviet Union, including Hungary, Romania and Latvia, and boost allies of Moscow living in those countries. (Associated Press)

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Russia is building up its submarine forces in Asia, and Moscow's military forces are seeking increased influence in the Arctic region, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, Adm. Samuel Locklear testified to the House Armed Services Committee. (Associated Press)