Vladimir Putin’s Charm Offensive Kicks Off Another Year With 2019 Calendar

The 2019 Putin VVP calendar, so-named for Russian President Vladimir Putin's initials, has hit the stands. This year's take on the annual diary revives portrayals of the Russian president as a consummate diplomat and outdoorsman, suggesting that Putin, 65, is a president for all seasons.

The calendar kicks off January with an image of a bare-chested Putin dipping into the icy waters of Lake Seliger to observe the Russian Orthodox Epiphany, according to the Guardian.