Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to Federal President of Germany Joachim Gauck and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel over the Christmas market tragedy in Berlin.

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Paolo Gentiloni.

Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin and Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov.

At Iran’s initiative, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani.

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the deaths of Turkish servicemen in a terrorist attack in Kayseri.

Vladimir Putin congratulated President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on the 25^th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitutional Law On State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The second round of top-level Russian-Japanese talks was held in Tokyo. The issues discussed included, in particular, the prospects for developing bilateral trade and economic, and investment cooperation.

Vladimir Putin arrived in Japan on a two-day visit.

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the initiative of the German side.

Vladimir Putin sent a message of congratulations to Bill English on taking office as Prime Minister of New Zealand.

At the initiative of Qatar, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council.

Ahead of his official visit to Japan, Vladimir Putin gave an interview to Nippon Television Network Corporation (Nippon TV) and Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Commission for Military Technical Cooperation with Foreign States to discuss measures to maintain and bolster Russia’s position on the international arms market.