At Japan’s initiative, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Vladimir Putin met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar who is in Russia on an official visit at the President’s invitation.

Vladimir Putin met with President of Greece Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

At Vladimir Putin’s invitation, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, will make his first official visit to Russia on January 17–19. The two leaders will hold talks at the Kremlin on January 18.

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the initiative of the Jordanian side.

Vladimir Putin met with Dmitry Mezentsev, who until January 2016 occupied the post of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary-General. As of 2016, Uzbekistan has taken over the rotating SCO Presidency.

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the United States of America Barack Obama on the American side’s initiative.

The President of Russia will meet with President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who will visit Moscow to take part in the forum Russia and the World: A Look into the Future.

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi at the Italian side’s initiative.

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of Finland Sauli Niinistö.

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Measures to Ensure the Russian Federation’s Economic Security and National Interests During International Transit of Freight From Ukrainian Territory to the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Territory Through the Russian Federation’s Territory.

Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Ratification of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Cases.

Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Ratification of the Protocol on Certain Issues Concerning the Import and Circulation of Goods in the Eurasian Economic Union Customs Territory.

Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Ratification of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Lebanon on Transfer of Sentenced Persons.

The President signed Federal Law On Ratifying the Agreement Between the Russian Federation and the Argentine Republic on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Cases.

The President signed Federal Law On Ratifying the Agreement Between the Russian Federation and the Argentine Republic on Extradition.

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, President of the French Republic François Hollande and President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

The President signed Federal Law On Suspension by the Russian Federation of the Agreement on the Free Trade Zone with Regard to Ukraine.

The President signed Federal Law On Amending Article 151 of Federal Law On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin sent Christmas and New Year greetings to heads of state and government and heads of international organisations.