FRONTLINE investigates Russian President Vladimir Putin’s clashes with five American presidents as he’s tried to rebuild the Russian empire. YouTube Tips ⓘ
Vladimir Vladimirovich (October 7, 1952) has held continuous positions as president or prime minister since 1999 — as prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012, and as president from 2000 to 2008 and since 2012. Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012.
In April 2021, after a referendum, Putin signed into law constitutional amendments that included one allowing him to run for reelection two more times, potentially extending his presidency to 2036
Putin worked as a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel before resigning in 1991 to begin a political career in Saint Petersburg. In 1996, he moved to Moscow to join the administration of President Boris Yeltsin. He briefly served as the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and as secretary of the Security Council of Russia before being appointed prime minister in August 1999. Following Yeltsin’s resignation, Putin became acting president and, in less than four months, was elected to his first term as president. He was subsequently reelected in 2004. Due to constitutional limitations of two consecutive presidential terms, Putin served as prime minister again from 2008 to 2012 under Dmitry Medvedev. He returned to the presidency in 2012, following an election marked by allegations of fraud and protests, and was reelected in 2018.
