If we speak calmly, in a businesslike fashion, let me draw your attention to the fact that Russia supplies arms to the legitimate government of Syria in full compliance with the norms of international law. We are not breaching any rules and norms.
— Vladimir Putin
What is a Rechtsstaat? It is obedience to the existing law.
Despite all the achievements of civilisation, the human being is still one of the most vulnerable creatures on earth.
In accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the issues of foreign policy and defense are fully in the hands of the president.
I read papers, try to watch news programs on television, but, as a rule, recorded. During the day I have no time for that, so I watch something taped. As for the newspapers, I try to get through them every day. Additionally, of course, I look through news bulletins.
It's a historical phenomenon that in 250 years, a nation could move from a colony into the most prosperous nation of the world and the leader of the world. It is indeed an achievement, a tribute to the talent of the American nation, the American people and an optimal political and economic system.
I would prefer to abandon the terminology of the past. 'Superpower' is something which we used during the cold war time. Why use it now?
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.
No one doubts that poison gas was used in Syria. But there is every reason to believe it was used, not by the Syrian Army, but by opposition forces to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists.
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.
How can a bureaucrat or a politician be trusted if he says loud words for the sake of Russia's good while trying to take his funds, his money abroad?
Our society, including the liberals, must understand that there must be order.
I'm eternally grateful to fate and the citizens of Russia that they've trusted me to be the head of the Russian government.
If one looks at the map of the world, it's difficult to find Iraq, and one would think it rather easy to subdue such a small country.
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.
Indeed, Russia and the U.S. were allies during the two tragic conflicts of the Second and the First World Wars, which allows us to think there's something objectively bringing us together in difficult times, and I think - I believe - it has to do with geopolitical interests and also has a moral component.
Russia does not want confrontation of any kind. And we will not take part in any kind of 'holy alliance.'
At least in Russia, you cannot just go and tap into someone's phone conversation without a warrant issued by court. That's more or less the way a civilized society should go about fighting terrorism.
I have never stated Russia is an energy superpower, but we have more reserves than almost anybody else. We have always behaved, and we will continue to behave, in a responsible way. We intend to participate in the elaboration of common rules in the energy sector and to abide by rules which are developed together.
There are both things in international law: the principle of territorial integrity and right to self-determination.
My English is very bad.
I was brought up in a very ordinary family, in fact, a worker's family. Both my father and mother were ordinary citizens.
Russia is opposed to the proliferation of mass destruction weapons, including nuclear weapons, and in this context we call upon our Iranian friends to abandon the uranium enrichment programme.
I go to the gym, I swim daily and from time to time I meet with friends and do extra-curricular stuff.
The Chechnya problem is a centuries-old problem. The thing is that today, fundamentalists and terrorists are exploiting those centuries-old problems to accomplish their own objectives that have nothing to do whatsoever with the interests of Chechnya.
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.
President Obama hasn't been elected by the American people in order to be pleasant to Russia.
I am the wealthiest man, not just in Europe, but in the whole world. I collect emotions. I am wealthy in that the people of Russia have twice entrusted me with the leadership of a great nation such as Russia - I believe that is my greatest wealth.
Those who fight corruption should be clean themselves.
Stalinism is linked with a cult of personality and massive violations of the law, with repression and camps. There is nothing like that in Russia and, I hope, will never again be.
Radicals can be found in any environment.
I believe that the presidential term should be limited.
Political activities in Russia should be as transparent as possible. Financing political activities from abroad is something the state should keep an eye on.
I see that not everyone in the West has understood that the Soviet Union has disappeared from the political map of the world and that a new country has emerged with new humanist and ideological principles at the foundation of its existence.
If you want my personal attitude, I would tell you that I don't care about a person's sexual orientation.
We should not just consume hydrocarbon fuel but use it to develop nuclear energy, hydro power and renewable energy sources.
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.
Journalism, as concerns collecting information, differs little if at all from intelligence work. In my judgment, a journalist's job is very interesting.
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.
Economic activity is moving from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific ocean... Russia has a certain natural advantage because it also borders the Pacific Ocean.
I love the Russian classics very much, the Russian classical literature. But I also read modern literature. As far as Russian literature is concerned, I am very fond of Tolstoy and Chekhov, and I also enjoy reading Gogol very much.
Chechnya is part and parcel of the Russian Federation.
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.
For Russia, there is not and there may not be another political option but democracy. However, Russian democracy is... not at all the realization of standards imposed on us from outside.
Terrorists are always a threat to someone. If we'll be scared of them, it means they have won.
I'm sure corruption in Chechnya is minimal.
Iraq is a small but very proud nation.
Stalin is the most popular figure in all of Russia.
The ability to compromise is not a diplomatic politeness toward a partner but rather taking into account and respecting your partner's legitimate interests.
Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain.
