Russia

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) listens to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a signing ceremony after Russia Uzbek talks in Moscow's Kremlin on April 15, 2013. Lavrov said that President Obama’s national security adviser Tom Donilon, who met with Putin o hand him a letter from Obama, said that the U.S. administration wants to overcome the current strain in relations with Russia. (Associated Press)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 13, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, battles for the puck against New York Islanders defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky (11), of Slovakia, and Thomas Hickey, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, April 4, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, against the New York Islanders during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, April 4, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, skates against Carolina Hurricanes' Tim Gleason (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

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Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, and Nicklas Backstrom, left, of Sweden, celebrate Ovechkin's goal against the Carolina Hurricanes with Jack Hillen (38) and Marcus Johansson (90), of Sweden, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

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Participants in a meeting of former U.S. and Russian envoys in Moscow on Sunday, March 31, 2013, include (from left) Alexander Vershbow, Thomas Pickering, Jack Matlock, James Collins and John Beyrle, all former U.S. ambassadors to Russia or the Soviet Union; (on the right side of the table) Vladimir Lukin, former Russian ambassador to the U.S.; Yuri Dubinin, former Soviet ambassador to U.S.; former Russian Ambassador to Poland Leonid Drachevsky; Sergei Rogov, director of the Institute for the U.S. and Canadian Studies; and Alexander Bessmertnykh, former Soviet ambassador to U.S.

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** FILE ** Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attend a meeting with top military officials in Moscow, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the country's top brass to deliver a drastic upgrade of the armed forces in the next three years to fend off attempts from abroad to "tip the strategic balance" in the world. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service)