“It is my greatest desire, I want the people in Russia to be happy and I want our partners around the world to seek to develop relations with Russia.” PeopleWorldWantDesireRelationPartnersRussiaAround The World Author:Vladimir Putin
“It is well known that Russia has many interesting and promising developments in the military-technical sphere. We are ready to deliver the needed equipment and ready for joint cooperation in arms production with Brazilian specialists. This is an area that is very closely linked to high technology in general. In this respect, we hope to develop closer cooperation between the scientific communities in our two countries.” WellsTwoCountryCommunityInterestingKnownTechnologyMilitaryReadyArmsDevelopmentNeededAreasProductionsRussiaCooperationSpheresEquipmentWell KnownLinkedJointsSpecialistsTwo CountriesHigh Technology Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia itself is a European country, and not just because our major political and economic centres are in Europe, but because Russian culture is primarily European culture.” CountryPoliticalCultureEconomicMajorsEuropeRussiaCentreEuropean Countries Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia is probably one of the first countries to have been confronted with this problem of terrorism. It took some time before the international community realised the danger terrorism poses.” FirstsHas BeensCountryProblemCommunityDangerInternationalTerrorismRussiaRealisedInternational Community Author:Vladimir Putin
“The fight against terrorism is something very real and practical for us. This is a fight to preserve our territorial integrity, and in this sense we need to have the instruments and create an environment in Russia that would make it impossible for the international terrorist organisations to achieve the aims they have set for themselves here.” NeedsRealFightingEnvironmentImpossibleAchieveIntegrityAimInstrumentsInternationalTerrorismTerroristRussiaPracticalsPreservesOrganisationTerritorial Author:Vladimir Putin
“It's not considered polite in Russia to count the money in someone else's pocket.” RussiaPocketsPolite 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
“After the unlawful decision to recognize Kosovo, everyone expected Russia to respond by recognizing the independence and sovereignty of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is true, this is how it was. Everyone was waiting for Russia's decision. And we had the moral right to make it but we did not. We were more than restrained. I don't even want to comment on it. In truth, we "swallowed" it.” WantWaitingDecisionMoralIndependenceSouthExpectedRussiaCommentSovereigntyRecognizingUnlawfulKosovo Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia has long recognized the borders of today's Ukraine. By and large, we have completed our talks on the border. Now we have to deal with the demarcation, but this is a technical issue.” LongTodayDealsIssuesRussiaBordersUkraine Author:Vladimir Putin
“Speaking seriously, Russia does not want to aggravate relations with anyone. We don't want any tensions. We want a good, friendly partnership with everyone.” WantDoeRelationRussiaTensionFriendlyPartnershipGood Friend Author:Vladimir Putin
“A foreign threat is useful to put things in order in one's own camp, to make one's allies follow the bloc discipline. Iran does not fit this role too well, and it is very tempting to revive Russia's image of the enemy. But nobody in Europe is afraid anymore.” WellsDoeOrderEnemyRolesDisciplineFitEuropeThreatRussiaIranAlliesCampsTemptingRevive Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia is a very reliable and big market. I don't remember the figure but, for example, the German machine-building industry has been increasing its supplies to Russia every year. These supplies are huge. Does someone want to discontinue these supplies? We'll buy from somebody else.” WantYearsDoeHas BeensBigsRememberFiguresExampleBuildingHugeIndustryMachinesRussiaSupplies Author:Vladimir Putin
“This, for instance, is what Egon Bahr said on June 26, 1990: "If we do not now undertake clear steps to prevent a division of Europe, this will lead to Russia's isolation."Bahr, a wise man, had a very concrete suggestion as to how this danger could be averted.” IfsMenSaidStepsClearWiseDangerEuropeRussiaInstanceIsolationDivisionConcreteSuggestionsJune Author:Vladimir Putin
“[Egon] Bahr even said: If Russia agreed to the NATO expansion, he would never come to Moscow again.” IfsSaidRussiaExpansionNatoMoscow Author:Vladimir Putin
“We had a very good situation in 2005. The common budget had a volume of 80 billion dollars per year. Thousands of jobs were created in Germany by Russian investments. At the same time, a large number of German companies invested in Russia. There were countless cultural and social contacts.” YearsJobsSocialCommonNumbersCompanySituationDollarsInvestmentVery GoodBillionsRussiaContactBudgetsGermanyVolumeLarge Numbers Author:Vladimir Putin
“In the referendum - which was still decided to take place by the Crimea's old parliament - the majority of citizens voted for belonging to Russia. This is democracy, the people's will.” PeopleStillsDemocracyCitizensDecidedMajorityRussiaBelongingParliamentReferendumsCrimea Author:Vladimir Putin
“Napoleon once said that justice is the incarnation of God on Earth. I'm telling you: the reunification of Crimea and Russia is just.” SaidEarthJusticeRussiaIncarnationCrimeaReunification Author:Vladimir Putin
“The West's sanctions are not aimed at helping Ukraine, but at geo-politically pushing Russia back. They are foolish and are merely harming both sides.” HelpingSidesWestFoolishRussiaPushingBoth SidesUkraineSanctions Author:Vladimir Putin
“Concerning our possibilities on the international financial markets, the sanctions are severely harming Russia. But the biggest harm is currently caused by the decline of the prices for energy. We suffer dangerous revenue losses in our export of oil and gas, which we can partly compensate for elsewhere. But the whole thing also has a positive side: if you earn so many petrodollars - as we once did - that you can buy anything abroad, this slows down developments in your own country.” IfsCountryWholeSufferingEnergySidesLossDangerousPossibilityDevelopmentFinancialInternationalHarmOilRussiaGasElsewhereDeclineSlow DownRevenueSanctionsFinancial MarketsOil And Gas Author:Vladimir Putin
“The constitutional reform is supposed to give autonomy to eastern Ukraine and to be adopted by the end of 2015. This has not happened, and the year is over. That's not Russia's fault.” GivingYearsEndsHappenedFaultsRussiaReformEasternAdoptedAutonomyUkraine Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia hosts a lot of forums, including the International Economic Forum in St Petersburg, [usually in the beginning of summer], as well as the Economic Forum in Sochi.” WellsEconomicSummerIncludingInternationalRussiaHostForumsSochi Author:Vladimir Putin
“The Far East is of particular significance for us in terms of this region's priority development. Over the last few years, let us say even over the last decades, we were faced with many problems here. We paid little attention to this territory although it deserves a lot more of it, because it concentrates great wealth as well as opportunities for Russia's future development.” YearsWellsLittlesProblemLastsOpportunityTermWealthAttentionParticularDevelopmentDeservePaidEastDecadesPrioritiesRussiaRegionsSignificanceTerritoryFuture Development Author:Vladimir Putin
“When we talk about the Far East we usually mean the Far East itself, including Primorye Territory, Khabarovsk Territory, Kamchatka, and Chukotka, as well as Eastern Siberia. All this area contains tremendous resources, including oil and gas, 90 percent of Russian tin, 30 percent of Russian gold, 35 percent of forest, 70 percent of Russia's fish is harvested in the local waters.” WellsMeanWaterPercentResourcesAreasGoldIncludingFishesOilEastRussiaLocalsForestsGasTerritoryEasternTinOil And GasSiberia Author:Vladimir Putin
“We handed over nothing, those territories [Tarabarov Island to China] were disputed and we have been negotiating this issue with the People's Republic of China, let me stress that, for 40 years, and finally managed to come to an agreement. One part of the territory was assigned to Russia, while another part - to the People's Republic of China.” PeopleYearsHas BeensIssuesLet MeStressChinaRussiaIslandsAgreementRepublicTerritoryNegotiating Author:Vladimir Putin
“Notably, it was only possible [ negotiating on the Tarabarov Island], and this is very important, due to the high level of trust Russia and China reached in their relations by that time. If we reach the same level of trust with Japan, we might be able to reach certain compromises.” IfsImportantMightAbleCertainLevelsRelationChinaDuesRussiaCompromiseIslandsJapanHigh LevelNegotiating Author:Vladimir Putin
“Russia and China also cooperate in mechanical engineering, high-speed railway transportation, lumber processing, nuclear energy production and so on. We have built the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. Two units are already operational and are showing good results.” TwoEnergyResultsBuiltPlantProductionsChinaSpeedNuclearRussiaEngineeringUnitsTransportationProcessingRailwayNuclear PowerHigh SpeedPower PlantsNuclear EnergyLumberEnergy Production Author:Vladimir Putin
“I was a comedian in Russia, and I worked on the cruise ships there. I met a lot of Americans, and they were laughing even though I didn't speak their language.” SpeakLanguageLaughingMetsRussiaShipsComedianCruiseCruise Ships Author:Yakov Smirnoff
“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
“We can tell the general public that the gold and foreign currency reserves of the Central Bank are not designed to finance the economy, but rather to ensure foreign trade turnover. Therefore, we need this level to be able to provide the necessary foreign trade turnover for such an economy as Russia's for a period of at least three months.” NeedsAbleThreeLevelsEconomyMonthsPeriodsGoldTradeRussiaFinanceCurrencyReservesThree MonthsCentral BanksGeneral PublicTurnoverForeign Trade Author:Vladimir Putin
“We always welcome when somebody says he or she is ready to work with Russia.” ReadyRussiaWelcome Author:Vladimir Putin
“As for the criticism we receive, you know, even Mr. [Donald] Trump's team criticize us. For instance, one of the participants or members of his team claimed that Russia was giving money to the Clintons through some funds and that in fact Russia is controlling the Clinton family. This is nonsense.” KnowsGivingFactsTeamTrumpMembersCriticismClintonRussiaInstanceNonsenseFundCriticizeParticipantsGiving Money Author:Vladimir Putin
“I do not even know where Bill Clinton delivered his speech and I know nothing about any funds. Both parties simply use it as a tool in their internal political contention, and I am sure it is a bad thing. But again, we welcome the fact that somebody expresses readiness to work with Russia whatever the name of that person.” KnowsPersonsFactsUsePoliticalNamesPartySpeechToolsBillsClintonRussiaWelcomeInternalsFundBad ThingsReadinessContention Author:Vladimir Putin
“We will work with any Administration and with any President in whom the American people have placed their trust. That is, of course, if they wish to cooperate with Russia.” PeopleIfsCoursesWishPresidentRussiaAdministration 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
“Speaking about our largest oil company Rosneft, and I recalled in the beginning that almost 20 percent of it [19.7] belongs to BP. Who's company is that? British Petroleum, isn't it? I suppose that is not bad. I have to tell that British Petroleum's capitalization is significantly related to the fact that it owns more than 19 percent of Rosneft, which has vast oil reserves both in Russia and abroad. This has its impact on the company's stability as well.” WellsFactsCompanyPercentImpactBritishOilRussiaRelatedStabilityReservesOil CompaniesPetroleumCapitalization 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
“If Britain pursues a more independent foreign policy, it might be possible then. And if it is guided by commitments to its allies and considers this to be of a bigger national interest than its cooperation with Russia, so be it.” IfsMightInterestPolicyCommitmentBiggerIndependentRussiaPursueBritainAlliesCooperationForeign PolicyNational Interests Author:Vladimir Putin
“When I was a little kid back in Moscow, Russia, I've always thought I would become an artist or a folk dancer or an astronomer. In fact, if you'd asked me then about a life of solitary writing I would have said, "Oh how boring! Imagine, to sit at a desk all day and just write."” IfsWritingLittlesSaidFactsKidsArtistImagineFolksBoringRussiaDancerSolitaryDesksLittle KidMoscowAstronomers Author:Vera Nazarian
“Russia has two bases outside of Russia. America has 178 military bases throughout the world. Who's the aggressor?” WorldTwoAmericaMilitaryBasesRussiaAggressorsMilitary Bases Author:Jesse Ventura
“Ronald Reagan is going to go into negotiations with [Vladimir] Putin from a position of strength. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama gave up the game on day one when they reset the relationship with Russia and they gave up the nuclear defense of Poland and the Czech Republic.” GamesPositionClintonDefenseNuclearRussiaBarackRepublicNegotiationPutinGave UpPolandResetCzechCzech Republic Author:Rudy Giuliani
“Not possessing definite geographical boundaries, at least in the East - its distinction from Asia is problematic, considering that two large countries, Russia and Turkey, stretch between the two continents - , Europe, from the beginning, has defined itself from the perspective of the constitutive specificity of its philosophical principles: the freedom of the Greek cities as opposed to the Asian despotic regimes. Although these principles were often contradicted and reversed into their opposite, the idea of Europe is inseparable from them.” TwoIdeasCountryCitiesPrinciplesPerspectiveEuropeOppositesPhilosophicalEastRussiaBoundariesDefinedGreekDistinctionRegimesContinentsConsideringDefiniteAsiaTurkeysAsianInseparablePossessingSpecificity Author:Roberto Esposito
“There was no opposition organized against Bela Kun. Like Lenin he surrounded himself with commissaries having absolute authority. of the 32 principle commissaries 25 were Jews, a proportion nearly similar to that in Russia. The most important of them formed a Directory of five: Bela Kun alias Kohn, Bela Vaga (Weiss), Joseph Pogany (Schwartz), Sigismond Kunfi (Kunstatter), and another. Other chiefs were Alpari and Szamuelly who directed the Red Terror, as well as the executions and tortures of the bourgeoisie.” WellsImportantPrinciplesFiveAuthorityRedAbsolutesTerrorJewRussiaChiefsTortureOrganizedProportionOppositionExecutionBourgeoisieAliases Author:Leon V. DePoncins
“Cabbage soup and barley. They're Russia's national food. Both excellent in their way, but a shade monotonous.” WayRussiaExcellentShadeSoupMonotonousCabbageBarley Author:Alexander Pushkin
“In the mid-1980s, however, the Estonian TV programmers came up with a clever idea: they asked Moscow for millions of rubles to make propaganda in Estonia to fight the Finnish programs' popularity. They got millions from the government, but what they made was not propaganda at all! They simply made good, entertaining programs - no one in Estonia recognized them as propaganda, only Russia thought it was, so they got away with it. Of course, Russia provided their own propaganda programs, but Estonians knew to avoid them.” MadeIdeasGovernmentFightingCoursesMillionsTvsProgramRussiaCleverPropagandaEntertainingPopularityProgrammersMoscowFinnishEstoniaEstonians Author:Jaak Kilmi
“We are technologically ahead of Russia and China. We can develop a nuclear shield for the United States, for Poland, and for the Czech Republic. Russia is deadly frightened of that. They have been trying to get us to give that up for 20 years since [Ronald] Reagan.” GivingTryingYearsHas BeensStatesUnitedUnited StatesChinaNuclearRussiaFrightenedRepublicShieldsPolandCzechCzech Republic Author:Rudy Giuliani
“There are a series of connections between Donald Trump and his closest advisers and Russia that at least raise significant questions. Some of those questions could be answered if Donald Trump was willing to release his tax returns, but he's unwilling to do that.” IfsWillingReturnTrumpTaxesConnectionsRaisesSeriesSignificantRussiaReleaseClosestUnwillingAdviserTax Returns Author:Tim Kaine
“Everybody has a different idea of when those good old days were, but everyone is convinced that there was a time when literature really mattered and that it doesn't now. They also tend to believe that it really matters someplace else - in very improbable places often. Russia is someone's idea of a place where literature really counts.” BelieveIdeasDifferentMatterLiteratureConvincedRussiaOld DaysImprobableGood Old DaysDifferent Ideas Author:Robert Hass