TODAY: Putin blames Ukraine again; Rogozin to meet NATO ambassadors today; Russia ready to cooperate on Afghanistan supply routes, get involved in Darfur; Orthodox Church voting for new head; Stanislav Markelov: rights activists condemn Medvedev’s silence; art, history, Stalin’s favourite ballerina dies.

In an interview with Bloomberg yesterday, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin focused on recent disputes with Ukraine, again blaming former US President George W. Bush for fostering political chaos in the region, and reiterating his optimism about the Obama administration.  ‘To some extent, I think, the opportunity for the US is to find ways to make [Russia] believe that they are being taken seriously,’ says a former US ambassador.  Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s NATO envoy, sees relations with NATO improving, and wants the military alliance to succeed in Afghanistan in order to be able to help counter what he views as a regional threat.  Rogozin is to meet NATO ambassadors today in Brussels for an informal meeting, the first after a 5-month hiatus.  President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia is ready to cooperate on supply routes for NATO forces in Afghanistan, and Russia’s envoy to Sudan says the country is planning to step up its diplomatic involvement in African issues, including the Darfur crisis.