Vladimir Putin Quotes

Of course, nobody does [want another Cuban Missile Crisis].

We have very close humanitarian contacts [with China], wide-ranging youth exchanges, educational and regional contacts, and all of them continue to develop.

Kodokan is, to a large degree, a trendsetter in the sport. This school trained outstanding masters and is a kind of Mecca for all judokas. Certainly, I would be pleased to visit, if time permits.

After all, China is our largest trading partner. As I said, country-wise, Russia trades the most with China. That is my first point.

We cannot decide for the American people.

Mrs. [Hillary] Clinton is focusing on a different part of the voters trying to influence them in her own way as well; so they attack each other [with Donald Trump].

We believe that we could do a great deal to neutralise regional conflicts. Also, for example, to continue joint activities in space, for peaceful civilian purposes.

There are also fundamental issues related to what the current leader, President [Barack] Obama, said. I am referring to his idea about American exceptionalism. I am skeptical about this idea.

As for the President-elect [Donald Trump], he has his own views on things, and this is also fairly natural.

Next year [2017], we are going to hold a series of events there that we would like to call Russian Seasons [in Japan]. Over 40 different activities - and what is more, in different cities.

I must admit that we have yet to understand how [Donald Trump] will develop his idea, his pledge to make America great again, but I hope this will not hinder the development of our cooperation.

We believe we have no territorial problems at all. It is only Japan that believes it has territorial problems with Russia. We are ready to talk about this.

As for meetings, I think the President-elect [Donald Trump] should be given an opportunity to first form his administration and assume office. Meetings will come next.

We conducted talks on border issues with our friends in the People's Republic of China for 40 years. There were also issues related to specific territories.

If we had joined efforts some time ago [with U.S], we could have avoided many problems the world is facing now, I believe.

By the way, Japan is also known to be actively engaged in manned space flights as part of the International Space Station.

There are many other areas. And I am confident that each of them is of interest to both the people of the United States of America and the Russian people.

All we need is good will, and we have to start working in a way that considers each other's interests [with U.S]. In my view, this is a mandatory condition.

I only had a telephone conversation with [Donald Trump], whereas [Shinzō ] Abe met with him in person.

I think Shidzo Abe's proposal may be the only way to achieving our goal.

We were in negotiations, but then the Japanese side suspended them unilaterally. Now, at the request of our Japanese partners, we have reopened these talks.

The Prime Minister [Shindzo Abe] and I will negotiate proceeding from our national interests: the interests of Russia and the interests of Japan. We should find a compromise.

I am very grateful to our people who appreciate my work and for their support, as without that support it would have been impossible to get anything done.

However, the 1956 agreement refers to two islands while the Prime Minister [Shindzo Abe] is talking about four islands.

At the request of my Japanese colleagues, in 2000 we revisited the possibility of signing a peace treaty based on the 1956 agreement.

Japan announced that it would not comply with this declaration [ 1956]. Later on, the Soviet Union also declared that the declaration could not be fulfilled unilaterally, by the USSR alone.

We want full-scale normalisation of relations [with Japan].

However, crisis in world trade is, among other things, the result of using political tools in competition or simply for achieving political objectives with the help of economic restrictions.

If regional associations are created, they should work on the basis of WTO norms, on the WTO basis.

We will keep a close eye on what is happening and wait for the election results and after that we will be ready to work with any Administration given that it wants to work with us.

Sanctions against such country as Russia are unlikely to be effective.

I have called President Obama, and President Obama called me on various issues. This is part of our regular contacts, there is nothing unusual or extraordinary about it.

President Obama and I can meet, shake hands and discuss current issues, we - and I am personally - are always ready for such contacts.

The issues of political nature should be solved in any country, including in Syria, primarily by its people.

There is nothing in common between al-Assad and ISIS, they fight against each other.

In my opinion, provision of military support to illegal structures runs counter to the principles of modern international law and the United Nations Charter.

The Soviet Union, and Russia as the successor state to the Soviet Union, is a founding member state of the United Nations and a permanent member of its Security Council.

We have already begun taking concrete steps to change the structure of our economy and, as we have discussed a great deal, to give it a more innovative quality.

I consider the decision of my colleagues and friends to be the best birthday present.

Fifteen percent of Russia badly polluted.

The participants expressed anxiety about the problems the Defense Ministry had been meeting in realizing its plans for future development.

I do not think I am entitled to assess the President of the United States. This is up to the American people.

We have good personal relationship with President Obama, our relations are quite frank and business-like. And this is quite enough to do our job.

We all are interested in an open development, without any prejudice; this refers particularly and, perhaps, primarily to the Baltic countries, for them it is more important than for Russia.

I see the collapse of the Soviet Union as a great tragedy of the XX century.

Nothing matters for a drastic change in Ukraine more than political transformations.

It is a major world power, and today it is an economic and military leader - no doubt about it. That is why America has a strong influence on the situation in the world in general.

I will not meddle in America's internal political squabbles.

Very interested in expanding the number of participants who will take part in laying the new gas pipeline in Europe.

I think the international community should unite to fight such inhuman phenomena as terror attacks and the murder of totally innocent people.