- All Quotes
-
Respect for sovereignty means to not allow unconstitutional action and coup d'états, the removal of legitimate power.
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.
Vladimir Putin
-
I keep [portraits of Jigoro Kano and a bust] at home, in my residence, where I live permanently. It's a very good, high-quality work by a Russian sculptor, depicting not just a strong-willed but also thoughtful and kind man.
Vladimir Putin
-
The strengthening of our statehood is, at times, deliberately interpreted as authoritarianism.
Vladimir Putin
-
We ask that (other countries) do not interfere in our regulation.
Vladimir Putin
-
Changing things is not easy, and I say this without any irony. It is not that someone does not want to, but because it is a hard thing to do. Take Obama, a forward-thinking man, a liberal, a democrat. Did he not pledge to shut down Guantanamo before his election? But did he do it? No, he did not. And may I ask why not? Did he not want to do it? He wanted to, I am sure he did, but it did not work out. He sincerely wanted to do it, but did not succeed, since it turned out to be very complicated.
Vladimir Putin
-
Russia needs a strong state power and must have it. But I am not calling for totalitarianism.
Vladimir Putin
-
Our economy has become completely different, on the whole. The size has changed. The economy has almost doubled in size. And the quality is changing, not as fast as we would like it to, but the structure is changing. Our Armed Forces are completely different today from what they were, say 15 years ago or so. All of this, including our great history, great culture, all of this, not just what we see today, is what makes the vast majority of Russia's citizens feel proud for their country.
Vladimir Putin
-
I often heard the same question: What place does Russia reserve for itself in the world; how does it see itself; what is its place? We are a peace-loving state and we want to cooperate with all of our neighbors and with all of our partners.
Vladimir Putin
-
I believe that the presidential term should be limited.
Vladimir Putin
-
The most important thing is to find collective solutions in diplomacy and I think that is possible.
Vladimir Putin
-
Our anti-crisis policy is aimed at supporting domestic demand, providing social guarantees for the population, and creating new jobs. Like many countries, we have reduced production taxes, leaving money in the economy. We have optimised state spending.
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.
Vladimir Putin
-
If European countries want to cater to U.S. foreign policy interests, I don't think that they stand to gain anything.
Vladimir Putin
-
NATO remains a military alliance, and we are against having a military alliance making itself at home right in our own backyard; in our historic territory. I simply cannot imagine that we would travel to Sevastopol to visit NATO sailors. Of course, most of them are wonderful guys, but it would be better to have them come and visit us, be our guests, rather than the other way round.
Vladimir Putin
-
Love for one's motherland is one of the most powerful and uplifting feelings. It manifested itself in full in the brotherly support to the people of Crimea and Sevastopol, when they resolutely decided to return home, this event will remain a very important epoch in domestic history forever.
Vladimir Putin
-
The sanctions may be imposed only by the decision of the UN Security Council. A unilateral imposition of sanctions is a violation of international law.
Vladimir Putin
-
When you start to meet with ordinary people you understand that a Russian person, really any person from Russia, a Tatar, a Mordvin, a Chechen, a Dagestani, they are very open people, even a little naive. But there's one defining trait that probably all peoples have, although it comes out especially strongly in us. That's a drive toward fairness. It's one of the dominating, I think, traits in the mentality of a person from Russia, a Russian person.
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.
Vladimir Putin
-
I hope that the responsible figures in the Ukrainian leadership will not hinder soldiers in the Ukrainian army from putting down their weapons.
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.
Vladimir Putin
-
We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.
Vladimir Putin
-
The demise of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.
Vladimir Putin
-
Terrorists are always a threat to someone. If we'll be scared of them, it means they have won.
Vladimir Putin
