Putin Gets a Snub in the Vast Wine Cellars of a Former Soviet Republic NYT | Top Stories Andrew Higgins 9 January 2025 at 18:06 The Russian president celebrated his 50th birthday at a winery in Moldova. After the invasion of Ukraine, it moved the bottles he was given away from public view. © Andreea Campeanu for The New York TimesVisiting the cellars of the Cricova Winery in Moldova. It has previously hosted world leaders including President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.