“Ukraine is the closest country to us. We have always said that Ukraine is our sister country and it is true. It is not just a Slavic people, it is the closest people to Russia: we have similar languages, culture, common history, religion etc.” PeopleSaidCountryCultureLanguageCommonRussiaEtcClosestUkraineLanguage Culture Author:Vladimir Putin
“Addressing issues, including controversial ones, as well as domestic issues of the former Soviet Republics through the so-called coloured revolutions, through coups and unconstitutional means of toppling the current government. That is absolutely unacceptable.” WellsMeanGovernmentIssuesRevolutionIncludingCurrentsFormerRepublicSovietControversialCoupsUnconstitutional 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
“At no time in the past, now or in the future has or will Russia take any part in actions aimed at overthrowing the legitimate government. I'm talking about something else right now - when someone does this, the outcome is very negative. Libya's state is disintegrated, Iraq's territory is flooded with terrorists, it looks like the scenario will be the same for Syria, and you know what the situation is in Afghanistan.” KnowsLooksDoeStatesGovernmentActionPastTalkingSituationRight NowNegativeIraqTerroristRussiaOutcomesTerritoryAfghanistanSyriaScenariosLibyaLegitimate Government 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
“Nothing matters for a drastic change in Ukraine more than political transformations.” MatterPoliticalTransformationUkraineDrasticNothing MattersDrastic Change Author:Vladimir Putin
“Do you think that it is possible to have a dialogue with the representatives of Lugansk and Donetsk if they all are being prosecuted and subject to criminal proceedings? That is exactly why the Minsk Agreements establish to adopt an amnesty law. However, it has not been adopted.” IfsThinkingLawSubjectsCriminalsDialogueAgreementRepresentativesAdoptedProceedingAmnesty Author:Vladimir Putin
“Hip-hop is more about attaining wealth. People respect success. They respect big. They don't even have to like your music. If you're big enough, people are drawn to you.” PeopleIfsEnoughBigsWealthHip HopHipsHops Author:Jay-Z
“I am a human being, a citizen of the Russian Federation, a Russian.” HumansHuman BeingsCitizensFederation Author:Vladimir Putin