Russian President Vladimir Putin's rumoured lover reportedly gave birth to twin boys here earlier this month. Former Olympic gold medalist and rhythmic gymnast, Alina Kabaeva, 36, has long been rumoured to be in a relationship with Putin, New York Post reports. Kabaeva became a model after leaving the competitive sport and was a Russian lawmaker until 2014. She now heads the National Media Group.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Ukrainians and Russians were "one people" and would benefit from common citizenship, after he angered Kiev by offering to fast-track Russian passports for Ukrainians. "I've said many times that Ukrainians and Russians are brotherly nations. More over, I believe that they are essentially one people with various cultural, linguistic and historic peculiarities," a smiling Putin told reporters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first-comments on U.S. court sentencing admitted Russian foreign agent Maria Butina to 18-months in prison, calling her treatment a travesty of justice. Butina was sentenced after the Siberia native, her voice breaking with emotion, begged a judge for mercy and expressed remorse for conspiring with Russian-official to infiltrate a gun-rights group and influence U.S. conservative activists and Republicans.