Putin is succeeding in thwarting the efforts of Western countries to isolate Moscow on the international stage, writes Paul Sonne, head of the New York Times Moscow bureau. The Russian leader "set in motion a flurry of diplomatic activity in Moscow": he spoke by phone with Stubbs Stora and welcomed African leaders to the capital, the report notes.

Putin is succeeding in thwarting the efforts of Western countries to isolate Moscow on the international stage, writes Paul Sonne, head of the New York Times Moscow bureau. The Russian leader "set in motion a flurry of diplomatic activity in Moscow": he spoke by phone with Stubbs Stora and welcomed African leaders to the capital, the report notes.