Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin of Russia made clear on Monday that he and his protégé, President Dmitri A. Medvedev, were just friends. Really. During a visit to Italy, Mr. Putin mocked a question from an Italian reporter who wanted him to explain the secrets to success in a “political marriage.” Mr. Putin has led Russia jointly with Mr. Medvedev for the past two years, after term limits prevented Mr. Putin from running for a third consecutive term as president. Click here to read more.
