“Please, accept the most sincere words of sympathy over the natural disaster that affected the United States . I know that hurricane Katrina that hit the US south-western coast led to casualties, left homeless dozens of thousands of US citizens and inflicted a strong damage to the economy of this region. I ask you to convey my condolences to the next of kin of those killed,.” KnowsStatesNextAsksLeftStrongNaturalUnitedAcceptingUnited StatesEconomyCitizensPleaseSouthWesternDisasterDamageRegionsAffectedSincereDozenHomelessCoastHurricanesCasualtiesKatrinaCondolencesNatural DisasterHurricane KatrinaWords Of SympathyMy Condolences 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
“The Soviet Union, and Russia as the successor state to the Soviet Union, is a founding member state of the United Nations and a permanent member of its Security Council.” StatesNationsUnitedSecurityMembersUnionsRussiaPermanentSovietSoviet UnionFoundingUnited NationsCouncilSuccessorsSecurity Council 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
“I believe, I am pretty certain that virtually everyone speaking from the United Nations platform is going to talk about the fight, about the need to fight terrorism, and I cannot avoid this issue, either. This is quite understandable because it is a serious common threat to all of us; it is a common challenge to all of us.” NeedsBelieveCertainFightingI BelieveNationsChallengesUnitedCommonIssuesSeriousThreatTerrorismPlatformsUnited NationsI Am Pretty Author:Vladimir Putin
“In my opinion, provision of military support to illegal structures runs counter to the principles of modern international law and the United Nations Charter.” RunningLawNationsUnitedOpinionPrinciplesSupportModernMilitaryStructureInternationalIllegalUnited NationsProvisionCharterInternational Law Author:Vladimir Putin
“60 percent of Syria is controlled either by ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra or other terrorist organisations, organisations that have been recognised as terrorist by the United States, as well as other countries and the UN. It is them and not anyone else who have control over 60 percent of Syrian territory.” WellsHas BeensCountryStatesUnitedUnited StatesPercentTerroristAlsControlledTerritoryOther CountriesSyriaIsisOrganisation Author:Vladimir Putin
“No one except for al-Assad's army is fighting against ISIS or other terrorist organisations in Syria, no one else is fighting them on Syrian territory. Minor airstrikes, including those by the United States aircraft, do not resolve the issue in essence; in fact, they do not resolve it at all.” StatesFactsFightingUnitedUnited StatesIssuesEssenceArmyIncludingTerroristResolveAlsTerritoryMinorsSyriaIsisOrganisationAircraftAssad Author:Vladimir Putin
“It was at a certain stage (you might have forgotten, haven't you?) that the United States actively collaborated with Saddam when he was at war with Iran: weapons were supplied, diplomatic and political support was provided and so on. Then the US fell out with him for some reason and decided to do away with him.” WarStatesReasonMightPoliticalCertainUnitedUnited StatesSupportStageHavensWeaponsDecidedForgottenIranSaddamDiplomatic Author:Vladimir Putin
“I do not think I am entitled to assess the President of the United States. This is up to the American people.” PeopleThinkingStatesPresidentUnitedUnited StatesEntitled Author:Vladimir Putin
“The point is that in any country, including the United States, may be in the United States even more often than in any other country, foreign policy is used for internal political struggle.” MayCountryStatesPoliticalUsedUnitedUnited StatesStrugglePolicyIncludingInternalsForeign PolicyOther CountriesPolitical Struggle Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia and the United States are the biggest nuclear powers, this leaves us with an extra special responsibility. By the way, we manage to deal with it and work together in certain fields, particularly in resolving the issue of the Iranian nuclear programme. We worked together and we achieved positive results on the whole.” WayStatesWholeTogetherCertainUnitedResultsDealsResponsibilityUnited StatesIssuesSpecialFieldsNuclearRussiaManageExtrasWorking TogetherIranianProgrammesNuclear PowerPositive Results Author:Vladimir Putin
“The thing is, however strange it may seem, that the interests of the United States and of the Russian Federation do coincide sometimes.” MaySometimesStatesSeemsInterestUnitedUnited StatesStrangeFederation Author:Vladimir Putin
“How long has it taken the democratic process to develop in the United States? Since it was founded. So, do you think that as regards democracy everything is settled now in America? If this were so, there would be no Ferguson issue, right? There would be no other issues of similar kind, there would be no police abuse. Our goal is to see all these issues and respond to them timely and properly. The same applies to Russia. We also have a lot of problems.” IfsThinkingKindLongStatesProblemWould BeAmericaProcessGoalUnitedUnited StatesDemocracyIssuesTakenAbusePoliceRegardDemocraticRussiaTimelyDemocratic ProcessFerguson Author:Vladimir Putin
“Look, there is parliamentary democracy in most European countries, there is parliamentary democracy in Japan, there is parliamentary democracy in many countries, but in the United States, for some reason, the State is organized differently, there is quite a stringent presidential republic.” LooksCountryStatesReasonUnitedUnited StatesDemocracyPresidentialOrganizedJapanRepublicEuropean CountriesParliamentaryParliamentary Democracy Author:Vladimir Putin
“It is well known that homosexuality is a criminal offense in the United States, in four US states. If it is good or bad, we know the decision of the Constitutional Court, but this problem has not been dealt with yet, it is still being addressed by the legislation of the United States. This is not the case in Russia.” IfsKnowsWellsStillsStatesProblemDecisionUnitedKnownCasesUnited StatesFourCourtCriminalsRussiaOffenseHomosexualityLegislationWell Known 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
“I assume that our colleagues from both the United States and the European Union will proceed from current humanitarian law and ensure political freedoms and rights of all people, including those who are living in the territory of Baltic states after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.” PeopleStatesLawPoliticalUnitedUnited StatesRightsAssumingUnionsIncludingCurrentsHumanitarianTerritorySovietColleaguesSoviet UnionEuropean UnionPolitical FreedomDisintegrationHumanitarian Law Author:Vladimir Putin
“It is clear that the international community has no other universal organisation of the likes of the United Nations.” NationsCommunityUnitedClearUniversalInternationalLikesUnited NationsOrganisationInternational Community Author:Vladimir Putin
“Some countries have a parliamentary republic, some are presidential republics and some are still monarchies, but no one sees them as not being democratic. In some countries regional leaders are appointed from the centre and in others they are elected. In Russia, the president is elected through direct secret ballot, and in the United States, the president is elected through a system of electoral colleges.” StillsCountryStatesPresidentUnitedSecretLeaderUnited StatesCollegeDirectDemocraticRussiaPresidentialRepublicCentreMonarchyBallotsParliamentaryElectoral College Author:Vladimir Putin
“I believe that a country, Russia in this case, which can defend the honour and dignity of its citizens, protect their lives, and fulfill its international legal commitments under the peacekeeping mandate, will not find itself in isolation, no matter what our partners in Europe or the United States may think, expressing their bloc mentality.” ThinkingBelieveMayCountryMatterStatesI BelieveUnitedCasesUnited StatesCitizensProtectCommitmentEuropeDignityNo Matter WhatInternationalPartnersRussiaIsolationHonourMentalityMandatesPeacekeeping Author:Vladimir Putin
“Europe and the United States are not the whole world.” WorldStatesWholeUnitedUnited StatesEuropeWhole World Author:Vladimir Putin
“Of course one always has to follow international law. This was also the case in Crimea. According to the Charter of the United Nations, every people has the right to self-determination.” PeopleSelfLawCoursesNationsUnitedCasesDeterminationInternationalSelf DeterminationUnited NationsCharterInternational LawCrimea 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
“Unfortunately, the relations between the United Kingdom and Russia have not developed in the best possible way; however, it has never been our fault. It was not we who decided to discontinue relations with the United Kingdom; it was the UK who preferred to "freeze" our bilateral contacts in various fields.” WayUnitedFieldsDecidedRelationFaultsVariousRussiaKingdomsContactFreezeUnited Kingdom Author:Vladimir Putin
“If the United Kingdom considers it necessary to start a dialogue on certain issues, we are ready for that, we are not going to pout or sulk. We take quite a pragmatic approach towards cooperation with our partners and we believe that it would be beneficial for both our countries.” IfsBelieveCountryWould BeCertainUnitedIssuesReadyApproachPartnersKingdomsDialogueOur CountryCooperationBeneficialPragmaticUnited 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
“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 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
“No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage. This is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization.” IfsWantRealCountryActionSufferingNationsUnitedFateSecurityMilitaryLeagueUnited NationsCouncilInfluentialBypassSecurity CouncilMilitary ActionLeague Of Nations Author:Vladimir Putin
“The United Nations' founders understood that decisions affecting war and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America's consent, the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The profound wisdom of this has underpinned the stability of international relations for decades.” ShouldWarHappensAmericaNationsDecisionUnitedSecurityMembersUnderstoodRelationProfoundInternationalDecadesPermanentStabilityFoundersConsentUnited NationsCouncilConsensusInternational RelationsCharterVetoSecurity Council Author:Vladimir Putin
“We need to use the United Nations Security Council and believe that preserving law and order in today's complex and turbulent world is one of the few ways to keep international relations from sliding into chaos. The law is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not.” WorldWayNeedsBelieveStillsUseTodayLawOrderNationsUnitedSecurityRelationComplexesChaosInternationalUnited NationsCouncilInternational RelationsLaw And OrderSecurity Council Author:Vladimir Putin
“But if the U.S. were to leave now and abandon Iraq without establishing the grounds for a united country, that would definitely be a second mistake.” IfsCountryUnitedMistakeIraqAbandonSovereign Author:Vladimir Putin