Russia backtracks on Arctic claims;

Kremlin infighting leads to bloodshed

Medvedev turns to Arctic to "

secure Russian interests"

Moscow formalizes treaties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Russian defense spending to surge 27% in 2009;

Russia withdraws from (most of) Georgia

Russian navy to flex muscles in South America...;

...and renovate port in Mediterranean

Cheney praises Georgia, the end of the Soviet Union;

Russia considers playing Iran card