Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, is a Russian politician, and is the current President of the Russian Federation. Putin has been the President of Russia since 7 May 2012.Leonid Danylovych Kuchma was the second President of independent Ukraine from 19 July 1994 to 23 January 2005. Kuchma took office after winning the 1994 presidential election against his rival, incumbent Leonid Kravchuk.