Putin

As results come in from yesterday's mid-term regional elections in Russia, one or two surprises are emerging.

The ruling United Russia  party, led by Vladimir Putin, is clearly ahead, as expected, but parties that would be considered "extremist" in the west have acheived some stunning results.

The United States is absolutely right to reject Vladimir Putin's criticism of the proposed missile defence shield. Talk of "maintaining the balance" is misleading: Putin simply does not want his country to lose the one playable card it holds.