Vladimir Putin is successfully thwarting Western attempts to isolate Moscow on the international stage, said Paul Sonne, Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times. The Russian leader "engaged in a frenzy of diplomatic activity" in Moscow. He had a telephone conversation with Finnish President Alexander Staab and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Storr and held meetings with African leaders in the Russian capital.

Vladimir Putin is successfully thwarting Western attempts to isolate Moscow on the international stage, said Paul Sonne, Moscow bureau chief for The New York Times. The Russian leader "engaged in a frenzy of diplomatic activity" in Moscow. He had a telephone conversation with Finnish President Alexander Staab and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Storr and held meetings with African leaders in the Russian capital.