“There is no need for the Russian state to hold such large stakes and we do intend to put our plans into practice. It is not about whether we want it or not, it is about this being practical or not and the best timing. In general, it is practical from at least one point of view - from the point of view of structural changes in the economy.” WantNeedsStatesViewsPracticeEconomyPlansPoint Of ViewPracticalsStakesTiming Author:Vladimir Putin
“It is true that the role of the state in the Russian economy may be too big today, but from the fiscal standpoint, it is not always practical to do this in a falling market.” MayStatesBigsTodayFallRolesEconomyPracticalsStandpointRussian Economy Author:Vladimir Putin
“Our trend in the privatization process and gradual withdrawal of the state from certain assets remains unchanged.” StatesCertainProcessRemainsAssetsTrendsWithdrawalPrivatization Author:Vladimir Putin
“In other words, we do not have to be obsessed with privatizing immediately and at any cost. No, we will not do it at any cost. We will do it in a way that ensures maximum benefit for the Russian state and the Russian economy.” WayStatesEconomyCostBenefitsObsessedMaximumRussian Economy Author:Vladimir Putin
“I would like to repeat: I know absolutely nothing about [hacker's attacks], and Russia has never done anything like this at the State level.” KnowsStatesDoneLevelsRussiaRepeatsAbsolutely NothingHackers Author:Vladimir Putin
“It is very difficult to enter a single currency zone having fairly weak economic parameters and maintain a favourable state of the economy, not to mention positive growth rates. We have witnessed it not only in Europe, but for example in Argentina (nearly 10 years ago or more), when they tied the national currency to the dollar and later they did not know what to do about it.” KnowsYearsStatesDifficultGrowthEconomyEconomicExampleEuropeYears AgoWeakDollarsRateZoneTiedCurrencyArgentinaParameters Author:Vladimir Putin
“We have never meddled in the domestic affairs of any state and we never will.” StatesAffair Author:Vladimir Putin
“Here is the thing: I have seen several times that anti-Russian cards are being played during domestic campaigns in the United States. I find this approach very short-sighted.” StatesUnitedUnited StatesApproachCampaignsCardsShort SightedBeing Played 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
“After all, despite the scandalous behavior of one and, by the way, the other candidate [they are both , Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, scandalous in their own ways], they are smart, they are really smart and they are aware of the leverages they should use to make the voters in the United States understand them, feel them and hear them.” WayFeelsShouldStatesUseUnitedUnited StatesTrumpBehaviorSmartClintonDespiteCandidatesVotersReally SmartScandalous Author:Vladimir Putin
“This is the political culture of the United States, which one should accept as is. The United States is a great country and it deserves non-interference and no third-party comments.” ShouldCountryStatesPoliticalCultureUnitedPartyAcceptingUnited StatesDeserveThirdsCommentInterferenceGreat CountryThird PartiesPolitical Culture Author:Vladimir Putin
“You too would prefer that Russia maintained good relations with both the United Kingdom and the United States, wouldn't you? I would prefer it as well. If anybody in the U.S. or in the United Kingdom says: "I would like to establish good partnership relations with Russia", then both of us, you and me, should welcome that. So should people like me and people like you. However, we have no idea yet what would actually happen after the elections [2016]. That is why I am telling you that we will work with any President designated as such by the American public.” PeopleIfsShouldWellsIdeasStatesHappensPresidentUnitedUnited StatesLike YouRelationElectionRussiaKingdomsLike MeWelcomeNo IdeaPartnershipUnited Kingdom Author:Vladimir Putin
“Britain is leaving and has de facto left the European Union; however, it has not withdrawn from its special relationship with the United States and I believe that the UK's relations with Russia depend on Britain's special relationship with the United States rather than on its presence in or absence from the European Union.” BelieveStatesLeftI BelieveUnitedUnited StatesSpecialDependsRelationUnionsLeavingAbsenceRussiaBritainEuropean UnionSpecial Relationship Author:Vladimir Putin
“Anyhow, we obviously understand that, being a United States' ally and having a special relationship with it, the UK in its relations with Russian has to make an allowance for the opinion of its partner - the U.S. We take this reality as a given fact, but let me underscore once again that we will be ready to do as much as Britain will be ready to do in order to resume our mutual cooperation. This does not depend on us.” DoeStatesFactsRealityOrderGivenUnitedOpinionUnited StatesSpecialReadyDependsLet MeRelationPartnersBritainMutualAlliesCooperationResumesAllowanceSpecial Relationship Author:Vladimir Putin
“Now we characterise Russian-Chinese relations as a strategic partnership, even a special strategic partnership. We have never had such a level of trust with China before. China is our major trade and economic partner among foreign states. We implement joint multi-billion projects. We cooperate not only within the UN Security Council, which is logical, as both China and Russia are permanent members of the UN Security Council, but also within such regional organisations as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS, etc.” StatesLevelsEconomicSpecialSecurityMembersProjectsMajorsRelationTradeChinaPartnersBillionsRussiaChinesePermanentEtcLogicalCooperationPartnershipCouncilJointsStrategicOrganisationSecurity CouncilShanghaiBrics Author:Vladimir Putin
“In the area of international security, taking into account that the United States and Russia are the largest nuclear powers: We are ready to jointly work to strengthen the non-proliferation regime for weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. We are ready to work together, and much closer than before, on the problem of fighting terrorism, international terrorism, and here we certainly have vast opportunities.” MeanStatesProblemTogetherFightingOpportunityUnitedUnited StatesSecurityReadyWeaponsMassAreasDestructionAccountsInternationalTerrorismNuclearRussiaWorking TogetherRegimesNational SecurityWeapons Of Mass DestructionMass DestructionDeliveryNuclear PowerProliferationFighting TerrorismInternational Terrorism Author:Vladimir Putin
“At any rate, those problems [ non-proliferation regime for weapons of mass destruction ] would not be so acute, with numerous terror attacks and victims of those attacks in many areas of the world - in Europe and in the United States. We also never would have had such an urgent problem with refugees, I have no doubt about it.” WorldStatesProblemUnitedUnited StatesDoubtWeaponsMassEuropeAreasDestructionVictimRateTerrorNo DoubtRegimesRefugeeUrgentWeapons Of Mass DestructionMass DestructionProliferationTerror Attacks Author:Vladimir Putin
“Then there is another area of activity - economic interaction between Russia and the United States. Right now, for example, it has already been made public that we signed a large deal to privatise one of our biggest oil and gas companies, Rosneft. We know for sure that US companies, as well as Japanese ones, by the way, are keenly interested in cooperation in Russia's oil and gas sector, in joint work. This has immense significance for world energy markets and will directly affect the whole world economy.” KnowsWorldWayWellsMadeStatesWholeEnergyUnitedDealsCompanyUnited StatesEconomyEconomicExampleRight NowActivityAreasOilRussiaWhole WorldGasSignificanceCooperationInteractionImmenseJointsWorld EconomyOil And Gas Author:Vladimir Putin
“There are many other areas. And I am confident that each of them is of interest to both the people of the United States of America and the Russian people.” PeopleStatesAmericaInterestUnitedUnited StatesAreasUnited States Of America Author:Vladimir Putin
“As far as I understand, the president-elect of the United States [Donald Trump] is ready for such joint work. We do not know yet what it will be like in actual practice. We have to wait for him to take office and form his administration.” KnowsStatesFormWaitingPresidentUnitedPracticeUnited StatesReadyTrumpOfficeAdministrationJointsWait For Him Author:Vladimir Putin
“We have seen very clearly over these past years that there are quite a few people who are sceptical, or let us put it another way, are cautious about the development of Russian-American relations, but the underlying fundamental interests of the United States and Russia demand that our relations be normalised.” PeopleWayYearsStatesPastInterestUnitedUnited StatesDevelopmentDemandRelationFundamentalsRussiaAnother WayCautious Author:Vladimir Putin
“Here is an example: while resolving current issues, our American colleagues made a proposal on the Syrian settlement but then suddenly declared at the UN that they were not going to discuss anything with us. It is necessary to understand what people want in one department versus another department of the United States. Do they have a common position? And this happened many times on very many areas of our cooperation.” PeopleWantMadeStatesUnitedCommonUnited StatesIssuesHappenedExamplePositionAreasCurrentsDepartmentCooperationColleaguesVersusProposalSettlement Author:Vladimir Putin
“No doubt, the United States and the American people are a gear country and a great people. Nobody disputes this, but talking about exceptionalism is way too much, and this is creating certain problems in relations, and not only with Russia, as I see it.” PeopleWayCountryStatesProblemCertainUnitedTalkingUnited StatesDoubtToo MuchCreatingRelationRussiaNo DoubtDisputesGearsGreat PeopleExceptionalism Author:Vladimir Putin
“This is not only a matter of relations between Russia and the United States. In my view, any restrictions in the economic sphere that are dictated by considerations of political expediency are extremely harmful for the world economy as a whole. This destroys unity and the rules of the game.” WorldMatterStatesWholePoliticalGamesUnitedViewsUnited StatesEconomyEconomicRelationUnityRussiaConsiderationSpheresRestrictionExpediencyWorld EconomyRules Of The Game Author:Vladimir Putin
“[Economic restrictions] is one of the elements that is destabilising the world economic order that was at one time created largely by the United States itself at the dawn of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade that was later transformed into the World Trade Organisation.” WorldStatesOrderUnitedUnited StatesEconomicElementsTradeDawnAgreementOne TimeTransformedRestrictionOrganisationWorld TradeTariffsEconomic Order Author:Vladimir Putin
“I believe the U.S. already understands and will understand more and more that only a strong Russia will respond to the genuine interests of the United States.” BelieveStatesStrongI BelieveInterestUnitedUnited StatesRussiaGenuine Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia needs a strong state power and must have it. But I am not calling for totalitarianism.” NeedsStatesStrongCallingRussiaTotalitarianismProvocative Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia will not soon become, if it ever becomes, a second copy of the United States or England - where liberal value have deep historic roots.” IfsStatesValuesUnitedUnited StatesRootsEnglandRussiaCopiesHistoricSecond Chance Author:Vladimir Putin
“Even during the years of the Cold War, the intense confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States, we always avoided any direct clash between our civilians and, most certainly, between our military.” YearsWarStatesUnitedUnited StatesMilitaryColdDirectUnionsIntenseSovietCold WarSoviet UnionAvoidedCiviliansConfrontationClash Author:Vladimir Putin
“I think every person should have some faith inside him, in his heart. What matters is not an external display of this faith, but the inner state of the soul.” ThinkingShouldHeartPersonsSoulMatterStatesShould HaveDisplayWhat Matters Author:Vladimir Putin
“In 1995, Russia virtually gave Chechnya de facto statehood and independence even though, de jure, it didn't recognize Chechnya as an independent state. And I would like to emphasize strongly that Russia withdrew all of its troops, we moved the prosecutors, we moved all the police, dismantled all the courts, completely, 100 percent.” StatesPercentPoliceIndependentIndependenceCourtMovedRussiaTroopsProsecutorChechnya Author:Vladimir Putin
“Political activities in Russia should be as transparent as possible. Financing political activities from abroad is something the state should keep an eye on.” ShouldStatesEyePoliticalActivityRussiaTransparentFinancing Author:Vladimir Putin
“They act as they please: here and there, they use force against sovereign states, building coalitions based on the principle 'If you are not with us, you are against us.' To make this aggression look legitimate, they force the necessary resolutions from international organizations, and if for some reason this does not work, they simply ignore the UN Security Council and the UN overall.” IfsLooksDoeStatesReasonUseForcePowerfulPrinciplesSecurityBuildingPleaseOrganizationInternationalResolutionAggressionSovereignCouncilHere And ThereCoalitionsSecurity CouncilCrimea Author:Vladimir Putin
“I do not exclude this, but I would like to draw your attention to one absolutely key aspect: In line with international law, only the U.N. Security Council can sanction the use of force against a sovereign state. Any other pretext or method which might be used to justify the use of force against an independent sovereign state is inadmissible and can only be interpreted as an aggression.” StatesUseMightLawUsedForceLinesAttentionSecurityKeysGayDrawsAspectIndependentMethodInternationalJustifyAggressionSyriaSovereignCouncilSanctionsGay RightsPretextInternational LawSecurity CouncilUse Of Force Author:Vladimir Putin
“They say that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Truth be told, we don't love him because of that, but he was a great musician, and we all love his music. So what? I assure you that I work with these people. I sometimes award them with state prizes or decorations for their achievements in various fields. We have absolutely normal relations, and I don't see anything out of the ordinary here.” PeopleSometimesStatesFieldsTruth IsGayNormalAchievementMusicianOrdinaryRelationVariousPrizeAwardsSyriaHomosexualGay RightsGreat MusicDecorationGreat MusicianTruth Be ToldTchaikovsky Author:Vladimir Putin
“Opposition can be useful. Every opposition movement is good and useful if it acts within the law... If there are people who act outside the law, then the state must use legal means to impose law in the interests of the majority. That's the way it's done in the U.S. and that's the way it's done in Russia.” PeopleIfsWayMeanStatesDoneUseLawInterestMovementMajorityRussiaOppositionProvocative Author:Vladimir Putin
