Mr Putin has responded by consolidating the state's hold over domestic oil and gas reserves.

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U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns responded by calling Putin's accusations "preposterous, " saying Washington would "not give a millimeter" to any proposal that would weaken the monitoring organization.

NPR: Tensions Rise in U.S.-Russia Relationship

But Mr Putin's publicity machine managed to co-opt even this, when the prime minister personally responded to one expletive-loaded post.

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