“I'm an adult and I know what power means in the modern world. In the modern world, power is mainly defined by such factors as the economy, defence and cultural influence. I believe that in terms of defence, Russia is without any doubt one of the leaders because we are a nuclear power and our nuclear weapons are perhaps the best in the world.” KnowsWorldBelieveMeanI BelieveTermLeaderEconomyDoubtInfluenceModernWeaponsAdultsNuclearRussiaFactorsDefinedNuclear WeaponsModern WorldDefenceNuclear PowerWorld Power Author:Vladimir Putin
“The Russian writer Vladimir Nabokov once said: In a Democracy, portraits of a nation's leader should never exceed the size of a postage stamp. That won't happen so quickly in Russia.” ShouldSaidHappensNationsLeaderDemocracySizeRussiaPortraitsStampsExceedPostagePostage Stamps Author:Vladimir Sorokin
“[In Moscow] we got through to [Soviet leaders] Brezhnev and Kosygin on the telephone. I think it was because nobody had ever tried to call them at home before.” ThinkingHomeFunnyLeaderHumorousRussiaSovietTelephonesMoscowBrezhnev Author:Ross Perot
“In Russia an authoritarian leader is running the country. You can't fight Putin with elections because he controls them. That's why demonstrations are the most effective approach. Unfortunately Russia has sunk to this primitive level.” CountryRunningFightingLevelsLeaderApproachElectionRussiaPrimitivePutinDemonstration Author:Alexei Navalny
“Our political leaders often talk about Russia taking an independent path, but they like to live like people in the West.” PeoplePoliticalLeaderPathIndependentWestRussiaPolitical Leaders Author:Alexei Navalny
“When [Vladimir] Putin, a former lieutenant-colonel in the KGB, became Russia's president on December 31, 1999 - eight years after the failed coup attempt against (then Soviet leader Mikhail) Gorbachev, and eight years after the people had torn down the statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the hated founder of the KGB, in Moscow - it was admittedly a shock. Nevertheless, I decided to give Putin a chance. He seemed dynamic and capable of learning. But I had to bury my hopes after just a few months. He proved to be an autocrat - and, because the West let him do as he pleased, he became a dictator.” PeopleGivingYearsPresidentChanceLeaderMonthsCapableDecidedWestEightRussiaFormerHatedShockSovietDictatorFoundersNeverthelessTornStatuesPutinDecemberMoscowColonelsCoupsLieutenantsKgbGorbachev Author:Garry Kasparov
“My goodness, what we want in a leader is someone with judgment, not someone who is so reckless as to stand on the stage and say, "Yes, I'm jumping up and down; I'm going to shoot down Russian planes." Russia already flies in that airspace. It may not be something we're in love with the fact that they're there, but they were invited by Iraq and by Syria to fly in that airspace.” WantMayFactsLeaderStageGoodnessJudgmentIraqRussiaPlanesSyriaInvitedJumpingUp And DownReckless Author:Rand Paul