“Russia's partners should understand it's best not to mess with us.” ShouldPartnersRussiaMess Author:Vladimir Putin
“We must seek support in the moral values that have ensured the progress of our civilization. Honesty and hard work, responsibility and faith in our strength are bound to bring us success. There should be no place for despondency. The crisis can and must be fought by uniting our intellectual, spiritual and material resources.” ShouldHardSpiritualValuesResponsibilityMoralHistoryPowerSupportProgressHonestyMaterialsHard WorkCivilizationIntellectualResourcesEconomicsCrisisBoundsDebtSocialismTaxationMoral ValuesUnitingDespondency Author:Vladimir Putin
“In order to preserve a balance, while we aren't planning to build a missile defence of our own, as it's very expensive and its efficiency is not quite clear yet, we have to develop offensive strike systems. They [U.S.] should give us all the information about the missile defence, and we will be ready then to provide some information about offensive weapons.” GivingShouldOrderClearInformationReadyBalanceWeaponsStrikesPlanningPreservesExpensiveEfficiencyOffensiveDefenceMissiles Author:Vladimir Putin
“Democracy is an internal subject of the developing society. There are fundamentals of democracy, and they should be understood universally in different countries.” ShouldDifferentCountryDemocracySubjectsUnderstoodFundamentalsDevelopingInternalsDifferent Countries Author:Vladimir Putin
“I think the international community should unite to fight such inhuman phenomena as terror attacks and the murder of totally innocent people.” PeopleThinkingShouldFightingCommunityMurderInternationalTerrorInnocentInhumanInternational CommunityTerror Attacks Author:Vladimir Putin
“We will not allow the past to drag us down and stop us from moving ahead. We understand where we should move.” ShouldPastMovingDown AndDragMoving Ahead Author:Vladimir Putin
“In relations between the states ... the interests of the country should be correlated with the interests of other countries, and compromise is to be found when resolving the most complex issues.” ShouldCountryStatesFoundInterestIssuesRelationComplexesCompromiseOther Countries Author:Vladimir Putin
“Crimea has always been and remains Russian, as well as Ukrainian, Crimean-Tatar, Greek (after all, there are Greeks living there) and German - and it will be home to all of those peoples. As for state affiliation, the people living in Crimea made their choice; it should be treated with respect, and Russia cannot do otherwise. I hope that our neighbouring and distant partners will ultimately treat this the same way, since in this case, the highest criteria used to establish the truth can only be the opinion of the people themselves.” PeopleWayShouldWellsMadeStatesHomeUsedChoicesOpinionCasesHighestTreatsRemainsPartnersRussiaTreatedGreekCriteriaUkrainianAffiliationCrimea Author:Vladimir Putin
“Problems between countries always exist, especially between such big countries as Russia and the United States. There have always been some issues, but I don't think we should go to extremes.” ThinkingShouldCountryStatesProblemBigsUnitedUnited StatesIssuesExtremesRussia Author:Vladimir Putin
“Prisons where people can't even work is the worst punishment you can think of. And I don't think we should put all convicts in such facilities where people are deprived of their freedom.” PeopleThinkingShouldWorstPrisonPunishmentDeprivedFacilityConvicts Author:Vladimir Putin
“Our common goal should be the development of a system of equal security for all governments. System adequate [to deal with] modern threats, built on regional and global nonaligned bases. Only then can we ensure peace and tranquility in the world.” WorldShouldGovernmentPeaceGoalDealsCommonModernSecurityDevelopmentEqualBuiltBasesThreatTranquilityAdequatePeace And TranquilityCommon Goal Author:Vladimir Putin
“All people here have political rights, social rights, rights to employment, and no one should face discrimination, but our strategic choice is for traditional families, healthy families and a healthy nation. One does not exclude the other and does not hinder the other. I think this is a balanced approach and is entirely the right approach.” PeopleThinkingShouldDoeFacesPoliticalChoicesNationsSocialRightsHealthyApproachDiscriminationTraditionalEmploymentBalancedStrategicHinderPolitical RightsTraditional FamilyHealthy Family Author:Vladimir Putin
“Even if states sometimes have problems with each other, arts and sports should not suffer from that. Arts and sports are there to bring the people together - and not to divide them.” PeopleIfsShouldArtSometimesStatesProblemTogetherSufferingSportsDivides Author:Vladimir Putin
“The United Nations remains the sole universal international organisation designed to maintain global peace. And in this sense it has no alternative today. It is also apparent that it should adapt to the ever-changing world, which we discuss all the time: how it should evolve and at what rate, which components should undergo qualitative changes. Of course, I will have to or rather should use this international platform to explain Russia's vision of today's international relations, as well as the future of this organisation and the global community.” WorldShouldWellsUseTodayCoursesNationsCommunityUnitedVisionUniversalRelationRemainsRateInternationalRussiaAlternativesEvolveSolePlatformsUnited NationsComponentsInternational RelationsOrganisationQualitativeGlobal CommunityGlobal Peace Author:Vladimir Putin
“It is only up to the Syrian people living in Syria to determine who, how and based on what principles should rule their country, and any external advice would be absolutely inappropriate, harmful and against international law.” PeopleShouldCountryWould BeLawPrinciplesAdviceInternationalDetermineSyriaInappropriateInternational Law Author:Vladimir Putin
“The issues of political nature should be solved in any country, including in Syria, primarily by its people.” PeopleShouldCountryPoliticalIssuesIncludingSyria Author:Vladimir Putin
“I think that all countries of the region should join their efforts in the fight against a common threat - terrorism in general and ISIS in particular. It concerns Iran as well, it concerns Saudi Arabia (although the two countries do not get along very well, ISIS threatens both of them), it concerns Jordan, it concerns Turkey (in spite of certain problems regarding the Kurdish issue), and, in my opinion, everybody is interested in resolving the situation. Our task is to join these efforts to fight against a common enemy.” ThinkingShouldWellsTwoCountryProblemCertainFightingCommonEffortSituationOpinionEnemyIssuesParticularConcernTasksThreatTerrorismSpiteRegionsIranTurkeysIsisJordanArabiaSaudi ArabiaSaudisTwo CountriesCommon EnemyKurdish Author:Vladimir Putin
“There can be no democracy without observing the law and everyone must observe it - that is the most basic and important thing that we all should remember.” ShouldImportantRememberLawDemocracyImportant ThingsObserving Author:Vladimir Putin
“I am sure that, after all, any man in my place should set a positive example for other people.” PeopleMenShouldExample Author:Vladimir Putin
“It is impossible to solve health problems of millions of people with the help of pills. People need to put it into practice, have passion for it; healthy lifestyle, fitness and sports should become fashionable.” PeopleNeedsShouldHelpingProblemPassionSportsPracticeMillionsImpossibleHealthySolveLifestylePillsFashionableHealthy LifestyleHealth Problems Author:Vladimir Putin
“Personally, I think that children should be left alone, they should be given an opportunity to grow up, to become aware of themselves and decide themselves who they are: men or women, if they want to have a traditional or homosexual marriage.” IfsThinkingMenWantShouldChildrenOpportunityLeftGivenGrowsGrowing UpTraditionalHomosexualLeft AloneHomosexual Marriage Author:Vladimir Putin
“Respecting the sovereignty means preventing coups, unconstitutional actions and illegitimate overthrowing of the legitimate government. All these things should be totally prevented.” ShouldMeanGovernmentActionSovereigntyPreventingCoupsUnconstitutionalLegitimate GovernmentSovereignty Means Author:Vladimir Putin
“What happened in Ukraine? The coup d'état in Ukraine has led to a civil war, because, yes, let's say, many Ukrainians no longer trusted President Yanukovych. However, they should have legitimately come to the polls and voted for another head of state instead of staging a coup d'état. And after the coup d'état took place, someone supported it, someone was satisfied with it, while others were not. And those who did not like it were treated from the position of force. And that led to a civil war.” ShouldWarStatesForcePresidentHappenedPositionShould HaveSatisfiedTreatedCivil WarTrustedPollsUkraineCoupsHead Of StateStaging Author:Vladimir Putin
“I think that both Russia and other international actors, including those who are more actively engaged in the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis (that is the Federal Republic of Germany and France, the so-called Normandy Quartet, certainly, with close involvement of the United States, and we have intensified our dialogue on this issue), we should all be committed to the full and unconditional implementation of the agreements that were achieved in Minsk. The Minsk Agreements have to be implemented.” ThinkingShouldStatesActorsUnitedUnited StatesIssuesCrisisIncludingInternationalCommittedRussiaDialogueFranceEngagedGermanyAgreementResolutionRepublicUnconditionalInvolvementImplementationQuartetsUkrainianNormandy Author:Vladimir Putin
“When people communicate freely, when labour force, goods, services and funds move freely as well, when there are no state dividing lines and when we have common legal regulation, for example, in the social sphere - all that is good enough, people should feel free.” PeopleFeelsShouldWellsStatesEnoughMovingForceSocialLinesCommonExampleCommunicateLabourFundGoodsGood EnoughSpheresRegulationDividing Author:Vladimir Putin
“The Baltic republics have invented something totally new. Do you know what? They use the word 'non-citizens' for people who have been living for decades in the territory of Baltic states and have been deprived of a number of political rights. They cannot participate in the election campaigns; they have limited political and social rights. Everybody keeps quiet about it, as if this is the way it should be. Of course, this cannot but cause a certain reaction.” PeopleIfsKnowsWayShouldHas BeensStatesUsePoliticalCertainCoursesSocialCausesNumbersRightsCitizensQuietElectionDecadesCampaignsReactionsDo You KnowRepublicTerritoryDeprivedPolitical Rights Author:Vladimir Putin
“The period of my service will depend on two conditions. Firstly, of course, there are rules stipulated by the Constitution, and I surely will not infringe them. But I am not sure whether I should take full advantage of these constitutional rights. It will depend on the specific situation in the country, in the world and my own feelings about it.” WorldShouldTwoCountryFeelingsCoursesMy OwnSituationRightsConditionsDependsPeriodsAdvantageConstitutionNot SureConstitutional Rights Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia should be an effective and competitive state with a sustainable economy, developed social and political system flexible to changes domestically and globally.” ShouldStatesPoliticalSocialEconomyRussiaFlexiblePolitical Systems Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia should be competitive, be able to protect its own interests and influence the processes that are important to it.” ShouldImportantAbleProcessInterestInfluenceProtectRussia Author:Vladimir Putin
“I think that rather than talking about particular models, of which there could be a huge number, we should talk about basic principles of democracy. After all, even within the West, there is no single standard and single model.” ThinkingShouldNumbersTalkingPrinciplesDemocracyParticularHugeModelsStandardsWestBasic PrinciplesHuge Numbers Author:Vladimir Putin
“The basic principles of democracy should be observed whatever the country - principles such as civil liberties, a free market, a free press, the priority of the individual over mythical state interests, a state which serves the interests of ordinary people and defends their rights and interests. This is all easy to say but hard to make reality.” PeopleShouldCountryHardStatesRealityIndividualEasyInterestLibertyPrinciplesDemocracyRightsOrdinaryPressesPrioritiesFree MarketOrdinary PeopleCivil LibertiesBasic PrinciplesFree Press Author:Vladimir Putin
“Everyone must be equal before the law, abide by it, pay their taxes and bear the punishment should they break the law.” ShouldLawPayBreakBearsTaxesEqualPunishment Author:Vladimir Putin
“We should cooperate much more closely in fighting terrorism, which is a great challenge.” ShouldFightingChallengesTerrorismFighting Terrorism Author:Vladimir Putin
“Even if we do not always agree on every aspect, nobody should take this as an excuse to declare us as enemies.” IfsShouldEnemyAspectAgreeExcuse Author:Vladimir Putin
“Just take Kosovo: back then, UN bodies decided that Kosovo should become independent of Serbia and that the interests of Serbia's central government had to be subordinated. You can read that in all the records, also in the German ones.” ShouldBodyGovernmentInterestRecordsDecidedIndependentSerbiaKosovoCentral Government Author:Vladimir Putin
“I'm asking : if the Kosovars have the right to self-determination, why should people on Crimea not have it? I would say: everyone should comply with uniform international rules and not want to change them any time one feels like it.” PeopleIfsWantFeelsShouldSelfDeterminationAskingInternationalSelf DeterminationUniformsCrimea Author:Vladimir Putin
“However, there is a fundamental difference between the issue related to Japan's history and our negotiations with China. What is it all about? The Japanese issue resulted from World War II and is stipulated in the international instruments on the outcomes of World War II, while our discussions on border issues with our Chinese counterparts have nothing to do with World War II or any other military conflicts. This is the first, or rather, I should say, the second point.” WorldShouldFirstsWarDifferencesIssuesMilitaryConflictFundamentalsInstrumentsInternationalChinaChineseDiscussionBordersWar Of The WorldsOutcomesRelatedJapanWorld War IiWorld War INegotiationCounterparts Author:Vladimir Putin
“I do not know whether the Government will be able to get ready to conduct this transaction together with the management of Rosneft itself, whether the appropriate strategic investors will be found. And I believe it is about such investors that we should talk. But we are getting ready, and it is in the current year that we are planning to do this.” KnowsShouldYearsBelieveGovernmentAbleTogetherFoundI BelieveReadyManagementCurrentsPlanningAppropriateInvestorsStrategicTransactions Author:Vladimir Putin
“I have criticized foreign policy, but that does not mean that we should agree with everything. Indeed, we criticize a lot of things, we think that our partners make many mistakes [may be we make mistakes too, no one is immune to making mistakes], but as for the economy, I repeat that, in my opinion, the European Commission and the leading European economies are acting very pragmatically and are on the right path.” ThinkingShouldMayMeanDoeActingMistakeOpinionEconomyPathPolicyAgreePartnersRepeatsMaking MistakesCriticizeForeign PolicyImmuneRight PathWe Make Mistakes Author:Vladimir Putin
“I have always thought and I still think that the Central Bank should act independently. Indeed, it does, you can take my word. I do not interfere in the decisions of the Central Bank and I do not give instructions to the Bank management or to its head.” ThinkingGivingShouldDoeStillsDecisionManagementInstructionInterfereCentral Banks Author:Vladimir Putin
“Besides, does it really matter who hacked Mrs. [Hillary] Clinton's election campaign team database? Does it? What really matters is the content shown to the community. This is what the discussion should be held about.” ShouldDoeMatterCommunityTeamElectionClintonCampaignsDiscussionHackedDatabases Author:Vladimir Putin
“I believe that the G20 should not interfere [foreign policy], because there are other platforms for that.” ShouldBelieveI BelievePolicyForeign PolicyPlatformsInterfere Author:Vladimir Putin
“We should find other platforms, other forums for that [foreign policy], and there are plenty of them, including, for example, the UN and the Security Council.” ShouldSecurityPolicyExampleIncludingPlentyForeign PolicyPlatformsCouncilForumsSecurity Council Author:Vladimir Putin
“If we speak about fundamental things, regulation of the rate is actually the function of the main regulator, namely the function of the Central Bank. And it should think of how the economy and industry react, but also of its fundamental tasks in order to ensure the stability of the rate.” IfsThinkingShouldOrderSpeakEconomyIndustryTasksFunctionFundamentalsRateStabilityRegulationCentral BanksRegulators Author:Vladimir Putin
“The Central Bank should take into account other things as well: the stability of the bank system in the country, the increase or decrease of money supply in the economy, its influence on inflation.” ShouldWellsCountryEconomyInfluenceAccountsIncreaseStabilityInflationDecreaseCentral Banks Author:Vladimir Putin
“My position is that the rate should align with the level of economic development. Because it is always about a balance, a balance of interests, and it should reflect this balance. A balance between those who sell something across the border and those who benefit from a low rate, as well as a balance between the interests of those who buy, who need the rate to be higher. A balance between national producers, for example, agricultural producers who are interested in it.” NeedsShouldWellsInterestLevelsEconomicExamplePositionDevelopmentBalanceHigherBenefitsLowsSellsRateProducersBordersEconomic Development Author:Vladimir Putin
“We should not forget either about the interests of the regular consumers who need the prices in supermarkets to be a little bit lower.” NeedsShouldLittlesBitsInterestForgetLittle BitConsumersSupermarkets Author:Vladimir Putin
“Therefore, let me reiterate that the rate should not meet the interests of a specific group or one or two groups, it should meet the fundamental development interests of the economy itself.” ShouldTwoInterestEconomyGroupsDevelopmentLet MeFundamentalsRate Author:Vladimir Putin
“Given the cost of borrowings and the $100 billion in Government reserves, there is no reason for us to borrow. We should review the situation carefully. Besides, borrowings are possible, but we must understand what is more profitable at this point.” ShouldReasonGovernmentGivenSituationCostBillionsNo ReasonReviewsReservesProfitableBorrowing Author:Vladimir Putin
“At the same time we receive different signals all around that in fact, everything is fine. The same situation occurred with the previous administrations during the election campaigns, claims that everything will be restored later. I do not think it matches the level of responsibility shouldered by the United States. I suppose it should be more sound, calm and balanced.” ThinkingShouldDifferentStatesFactsSoundLevelsUnitedResponsibilitySituationUnited StatesFineClaimsElectionCalmCampaignsAdministrationBalancedSignals Author:Vladimir Putin
