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First Posted: 12/19/2013

(AP) President Vladimir Putin says Moscow isn’t controlling National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, who has asylum in Russia.


Putin said at a news conference Thursday that any revelations published by Snowden must have come from materials he provided before landing in Russia.


He reaffirms that Russia made providing refuge to Snowden conditional on his halting what he called ant-American activities.


Putin says he hasn’t met with Snowden and insists that Russian security agencies haven’t worked with him and have not asked him any questions related to NSA activities against Russia.


THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.


President Vladimir Putin says that Russia hasn’t deployed missiles to its westernmost Baltic exclave, but sees it as a possible way of countering the U.S.-led missile defense system in Europe.


Putin was asked at a Thursday news conference about a report claiming that Moscow stationed its state-of-the art Iskander missiles in the Kaliningrad region that borders NATO and EU members Poland and Lithuania.


Both nations have expressed concern, and Washington warned Moscow against making destabilizing moves.


Putin says Russia has long considered the move, but adds that “we haven’t made the decision yet” on deploying them.


Associated Press