Even if states sometimes have problems with each other, arts and sports should not suffer from that. Arts and sports are there to bring the people together - and not to divide them. Vladimir Putin More Quotes by Vladimir Putin More Quotes From Vladimir Putin Under our regional cooperation projects, we are building roads and bridges. The scope of regional cooperation [with China] is constantly growing. Vladimir Putin cooperation growing bridges 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. Vladimir Putin russia democracy political I always had a problem when someone was trying to place sport in social and political context. Sport is a separate and unique kind of human activity, which functions under its own rules and principles. It has nothing to do with the political agenda, and neither it should. When politics interferes with sport, unjust things happen. Vladimir Putin political unique sports I am in regular contact with Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe. We have met several times this year [2016]. Vladimir Putin ministers prime years The nationalists' coup in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev in February 2014 has hugely scared 2.5 million Russian people living on Crimea. So what did we do? We have not gone to war, we have not fired, not a single person was killed. Our soldiers have merely prevented the Ukrainian troops on Crimea from impeding the freedom of expression of the people. Vladimir Putin expression war people At no time in the past, now or in the future has or will Russia take any part in actions aimed at overthrowing the legitimate government. I'm talking about something else right now - when someone does this, the outcome is very negative. Libya's state is disintegrated, Iraq's territory is flooded with terrorists, it looks like the scenario will be the same for Syria, and you know what the situation is in Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin iraq talking past We must stop using the language of force and return to the path of civilized diplomatic and political settlement. Vladimir Putin return political path The Cold War is over. The world has become much more complicated. Vladimir Putin cold war world The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction also represents a serious danger. If these weapons were to fall into the hands of terrorists, and they pursue this aim, the consequences would be simply disastrous. Vladimir Putin mass-destruction hands fall I would like to assure you that there is no organization or any sort of repression against people who don’t agree with our actions, for example in Ukraine, Crimea, or any other external issue, no one from official government organs do this. Vladimir Putin ukraine government organization What happened in Ukraine? The coup d'état in Ukraine has led to a civil war, because, yes, let's say, many Ukrainians no longer trusted President Yanukovych. However, they should have legitimately come to the polls and voted for another head of state instead of staging a coup d'état. And after the coup d'état took place, someone supported it, someone was satisfied with it, while others were not. And those who did not like it were treated from the position of force. And that led to a civil war. Vladimir Putin ukraine should-have war I am a human being, a citizen of the Russian Federation, a Russian. Vladimir Putin federation citizens humans Brazil is one of the biggest Latin American countries, the biggest, no doubt, and, more importantly, it is a country with immense development potential. Vladimir Putin doubt latin country It has nothing to do with any kind of exchange or sale [of Kuril island to Japan]. It is about the search for a solution when neither party would be at a disadvantage, when neither party would perceive itself as conquered or defeated. Vladimir Putin japan party islands If we act together along these lines, we will create conditions, the conditions for trust that Shinzō Abe speaks about, so as to take another step and conclude a peace treaty on certain terms. However, first, it is essential to cover this part of the way and then agree on the terms for signing a peace treaty. Both are challenging tasks but they are feasible. Vladimir Putin essentials challenges together In Russia all people enjoy the equal rights, including homosexuals. Vladimir Putin russia rights people There is no need to distract the attention of the community from the essence of the subject substituting it with secondary questions dealing with the search of those who did it [hacker's attacks]. Vladimir Putin community essence needs Russia should be an effective and competitive state with a sustainable economy, developed social and political system flexible to changes domestically and globally. Vladimir Putin economy russia political There is always a chance [for negotiations with Japan], or else it makes no sense to talk. How great is it? Right now, it is difficult for me to say, because this will depend, among other things, on the flexibility of our partners. Vladimir Putin negotiation japan chance You recalled the 1956 declaration, and this declaration established the rules that should be followed by both sides and that should be put into the foundation of a peace treaty. If you carefully read the text of this document, you will see that the declaration will take effect after we sign a peace treaty and the two islands [Kunashir and Shikotan] are transferred to Japan. It does not say on what terms they should be transferred and what side will exercise sovereignty over them. Vladimir Putin japan exercise islands
