PARIS (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin turned 63 this week with his now traditional display of sporting prowess, and an announcement that Russian naval vessels had launched a wave of missiles against Islamic State in Syria.
The Russian leader has never appeared more confident and his grip on power never more secure. In the past two years he has outmanoeuvred the West in Crimea, eastern Ukraine and Syria. Western sanctions have apparently failed to blunt his ambition.
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