Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks to the State Duma, the Russian parliament's lower house, in Moscow on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, addressing the State Duma, the parliament's lower chamber, in Moscow on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, said Russia must be "independent and strong" to resist outside pressure. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)