Vladimir Putin held his first public meeting in more than a week today . The Russian leader is expected to discuss the situation in Ukraine with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on Thursday at an economic summit in St. Petersburg.
Vladimir Putin held his first public meeting in more than a week today . The Russian president met with the head of the supreme court in Moscow . The pair are believed to have discussed judicial reform and the economy . Russian government sources say Putin has further meetings on Monday . Reports claim Putin 's 'girlfriend ' has checked into Swiss maternity hospital . It 's claimed Alina Kabayeva , 31 , is giving birth or had recently done so . Her stay at the hospital has been linked to recent disappearance of Putin . It comes as the Kremlin fends off allegations of an impending coup . Former aide said Russia 's prime minister will be replaced by Sergei Ivanov . This to be followed by an announcement Putin needs a break , it is claimed .