"Putin's Reelection Bid Gains Support as Pro-Peace Candidate Advances"

Russia's ruling party, United Russia, unanimously backs President Vladimir Putin's bid for reelection at a party conference in Moscow, while a little-known pro-peace candidate, Yekaterina Duntsova, clears the first hurdle towards formally registering as a candidate by securing a nomination from a group of over 500 supporters. Putin's reelection is seen as all but assured due to his tight control over Russia's political system, with prominent critics either in jail or abroad and independent media banned within the country. Putin's campaign will gather signatures as he runs as an independent candidate, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036 under constitutional reforms he orchestrated.