🎙 President of Russia
Vladimir Putin summed up the results of the year and answered questions from journalists and the people of Russia in a live broadcast
(December 19, 2024)#Sovereignty• Russia has become significantly stronger.
We are becoming a truly sovereign country. We are capable of firmly standing on our feet when it comes to the economy. We are strengthening our defence capability.
• Sovereignty is extremely important. It comes from within, should be embedded in the heart itself.
#RussianEconomy• The situation in Russian economy is
stable and solid. We are growing in spite of any external threats or attempts at outside influence.
• International financial and economic institutions ranked Russia as
Europe’s biggest economy in terms of volume, in terms of purchasing power parity, and the world’s 4th largest economy.
#UkrainianCrisis• If one were to look at the situation in 2022, knowing what is happening now, I would think the early 2022 decision [to start the special military operation]
should have been made sooner.• We are
ready to engage in dialogue without any preconditions. However, as I have mentioned numerous times before, based on the agreements that we reached during the negotiation process in Istanbul at the end of 2022 and proceeding from the
current realities on the ground.• There is no indication in the Ukrainian constitution that the president's powers сould be extended. If one takes part in elections and becomes
legitimate, then we will talk to that person, even if it's Zelensky.
#Syria• Our position firmly aligns with international law and the sovereignty of all nations, including
respect for Syria’s territorial integrity. This extends to supporting the stance of the current authorities governing the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic.
• The main beneficiary of the developments in Syria is Israel. Russia
condemns the seizure of Syrian territories. Our position on this matter is clear and unchanging.
#NuclearDoctrine• [In the new
Basic Principles of State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence] we are talking about some new military hazards that may grow into military threats.
• If
non-nuclear states threaten our existence, participate in an aggression against the Russian Federation alongside the countries that have nuclear weapons, we consider ourselves entitled to use nuclear weapons vs them.
• If similar threats are posed to
Belarus, our ally and member of the Union State, the Russian Federation will consider these threats as threats to Russia. And
we will do everything to ensure the security of Belarus. #Oreshnik
• Medium-range Oreshnik missile system is a modern, a brand new weapon which can strike targets located up to
5'500 km away.• Our missile needs a few seconds to start dispensing warheads There is
no chance of shooting down these missiles.#BRICS•
BRICS is not a tool for countering the West. We focus on our own interests and the interests of the group’s member countries.
• Ensuring reciprocity, mutual respect and respecting each other’s interests have been our
core guiding principles in this effort. We adopt all decisions by consensus.
#RussiaChina• Everything [Russia and China] do in relation to each other and how we do it is based on
absolute trust to policies of both Sides. We engage in nothing that contradicts our interests, and we do much that
benefits both the Chinese people and the peoples of the Russian Federation. <...> The bilateral trade volume is estimated at
$220-240 billion, and it continues to grow.
#RussiaUSA• I don’t know when we will meet [with Donald Trump]. I haven't spoken to him for more than four years. I’m ready to talk any time and will be
ready to meet with him.#Victory80• We will be happy to see all those who wish to visit our country to celebrate the
80th Anniversary of the Victory over Nazism.• The losses of the US and Britain in World War II are
incomparable to those of the Soviet Union. Their contribution varied, yet we all the same cherish their participation.
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