Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
Address to Russia citizens
Vladimir
Putin addressed the citizens of Russia following
the announcement of the presidential election official results
by the Central Election Commission.
March
23, 2018
13:00
President
of Russia Vladimir Putin: Citizens of Russia, friends,
Today
the Central Election Commission announced the final results
of the Russian presidential election.
Over
67 percent of voters, which is over 73 million citizens, took part
in the voting. Over 56 million of them, which is over 76
percent, voted for the current Head of State. It sets
a record in the history of our country.
On March 18,
right after the preliminary results were announced, I addressed
a rally on Manezhnaya Square and spoke at my election
campaign headquarters. I thanked my supporters, everyone who voted, it
was both necessary and timely that night.
However,
given the large-scale and unprecedented support you gave me,
I believe that the words of gratitude I said
in the centre of Moscow are not enough. I feel
the need to address you directly, all those who supported me across
Russia, all citizens of Russia.
I believe
that such spectacular civic engagement and your commitment as well
as consolidation are crucially important. Especially today, when we are
facing complex domestic and foreign challenges.
I know
only too well about your problems. You, Russian citizens, are right
to speak about low incomes, faults with the healthcare system,
housing, utilities and other things as well.
The trust
you put in me signifies for me primarily your hope
for a change for the better. I expect that your praise
is related to the work that has been done and those positive
results that we have achieved over the past years.
But
it is not enough, of course. We need to make a real
breakthrough. Your active participation in the election and your
support show that we are ready to carry out such work, as well
as to strive towards achieving such change.
I am
well aware of my enormous responsibility before the citizens
of Russia, before this entire country. Everything I spoke about
in the course of the election campaign must be done.
Of course,
I would like the matters that citizens raised to be addressed
as soon as possible – we will strive to do this. But
promising to solve all these things immediately, right away, to make
the necessary changes simply overnight, would be an absolutely
irresponsible thing to do.
Vladimir Putin addressed
the citizens of Russia following the announcement
of the presidential election official results
by the Central Election Commission.
This
would be nothing but a grand gesture, like showing off something designed
only to have an immediate, short-term effect. What we really need is
consistent, profound change, planned steps that will result
in a stable positive outcome not only today but
in the future as well.
We
will be creating new jobs and increasing the effectiveness
of our economy, increasing the real income of our citizens,
reducing poverty, developing infrastructure and the social sphere –
education and healthcare, addressing environmental and housing
problems, and we will continue to renovate and revamp small
cities and villages. All of this should be based
on a powerful technological breakthrough, which is yet to be
made.
I spoke
about all these matters in the Address to the Federal
Assembly. It is, essentially, a clear, concrete, detailed plan of our
common action. I am sure that it is realistic, right and valid.
At the same
time, I would like to emphasise that all the forthcoming
decisions, even the most difficult ones, will be motivated by one
thing only, the need to eliminate the backlogs that still exist
in various spheres, to ensure the country’s dynamic development
and a brand new quality of life for the people,
as well as to address the historical challenges that we
face today.
And the most
important thing – in the end, all these decisions will be taken
exclusively for the benefit of our country, our citizens, our
children and future generations.
We
will act openly and discuss all our major decisions with the public,
we will also explain why we are acting in this or that way
and we will explain which goals we want to achieve. Let me stress
that our development agenda is meant to be consolidating
and to unite the entire nation.
I would
like to address all public and political forces
in the country. I understand that the logic
of political competition is in criticising those in power, from
the left, from the right, always.
Yes,
criticism, debates and discussions are necessary and important but
they must be free from irresponsible populism. The national interests
and the wellbeing of the people must be the main
guideline for everybody, especially today. It is the ground
for our consolidation and collaborative work.
I want
to address those citizens who voted for other candidates.
I respect your choice and opinion. Political preferences must not
divide us. We are all patriots of our country and we have one common
concern, that of Russia’s future and prosperity.
Our
unity, responsibility, common understanding of goals and aspirations
of millions of people must be turned into Russia’s development
and powerful progress.
Thank
you all once again for your support and trust. I am certain that
together we will succeed.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump
Vladimir Putin had a telephone
conversation with President of the United States Donald Trump
at the latter’s initiative.
March 20, 2018
18:25
Donald Trump congratulated
Vladimir Putin on his victory in the presidential election.
The leaders spoke in favour of developing practical cooperation
in various areas, including efforts to ensure strategic stability
and combat international terrorism, with particular emphasis
on the importance of coordinated efforts to curb
an arms race.
The exchange on economic
cooperation revealed an interest in bolstering it. Energy was
discussed separately.
The problem of Syria was
discussed, as was the internal crisis in Ukraine. There was
recognition on both sides of the need to make rapid strides
toward achieving settlements.
Satisfaction was expressed with
the limited reduction of tensions around the Korean Peninsula.
The expediency of continuing consistent efforts to resolve
the situation by peaceful, diplomatic means was underscored.
It was agreed to develop
further bilateral contacts in light of the changes
in leadership at the US Department of State.
The possibility of organizing a top-level meeting received
special attention.
On the whole,
the conversation was constructive and businesslike, with a focus
on overcoming the accumulated problems in Russian-American
relations.
Monday, March 19, 2018
Meeting with candidates for post of Russian Federation President
Vladimir Putin met with
candidates who ran in the presidential election.
March 19, 2018
16:20
The Kremlin, Moscow
8 of 11
Meeting
with candidates for post of Russian Federation President.
President of Russia
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.
The election campaign is
over, and I wanted to meet with you. I hope that today we
will talk, first of all, about the campaign, and most
importantly, about what needs to be done to ensure that all
the positive elements (and there were a lot of them during
the election campaign) are taken into account in the future
practical work of the executive and legislative branches
of government.
Of course,
an election campaign is always a special period, it is associated
with special emotions, and often they are quite overwhelming. It happens
almost everywhere, and we are no exception here. The main thing is
that we have the opportunity to join efforts in the future
for constructive work for the benefit of the country.
I met today with
the heads of the central headquarters, the co-chairs
of my campaign, and I want to repeat once again,
the main emphasis in the future work of the executive
branch will be on solving the country’s domestic problems. First
of all, this means ensuring economic growth rates, making innovation part
of the character of our economy, resolving specific issues
in healthcare, education and science as well as ensuring
the prosperity of our people on the basis of these
elements.
This is the final goal
of any government in Russia; it is nothing original, and,
moreover – by the way, almost all of you noted this
in your campaigns – we have the problem of a gap
between those who earn a lot, have large incomes and those who live
humbly, to put it mildly. The state must close this gap and,
as I have said many times, reduce the number of people
living below the poverty line, especially those with jobs. The kind
of situation where someone works but receives contemptible pay should not
be allowed in Russia.
At a meeting
with candidates for post of Russian Federation President.
Of course, we must
and will pay the necessary attention to further bolstering
the country’s defence capability. But let me tell you outright that no one
is going to start some arms race. On the contrary, we are going
to pursue constructive relations with all countries
of the world. We will aim for constructive dialogue, without
question, and encourage this among our partners.
But, of course, not
everything depends on us. There must be interest on both sides, like
in love, or there will be no love. However, we, on our side,
will do everything possible to resolve all disputes with our partners
through political and diplomatic means. In addition to this,
of course, our position has always been and will always be that we
will fight to uphold our national interests. Our operating assumption is
that we will do all this work with our partners on a mutually
acceptable basis, showing respect for each other and for our
national interests.
Regarding military
expenditures. There are planned reductions in defence spending both this
year and next year. This will not bring about any problems in our
defence capability because the major expenditures on creating
cutting-edge weapon systems were made in previous years. We have
to bring some matters to their logical conclusion, and continue
with current designs, which I have not yet spoken about. We have run all
the calculations. The money we are going to put to these
ends will suffice, there will be no increases, and we will not allow
a new arms race. We have everything, in this sense we are securely
provided for. Yet we will pursue our aims steadily and according
to plan.
At a meeting
with candidates for post of Russian Federation President.
This is what I would like
to focus on at the end of my monologue.
I spoke about it at the rally yesterday,
if you had time to watch and if you took notice. I think it is
crucial for us to unite the efforts of all political
parties, civic organisations, the public in the broadest sense
of the word, to unite our efforts around a positive agenda,
to solve the tasks the country is facing,
and to overcome the challenges Russia is up against. There may
be no simple solutions; they may require additional explanation.
I strongly hope that we
will always be guided by the long-term interests of Russia and the Russian
people, with group or party preferences coming second.
I understand that this is
not easy, there is always a temptation to exploit certain decisions
made by the government that require additional public explanation.
But I urge you to engage in an open and honest
dialogue that advances long-term national interests.
This is what I wanted
to begin with. Let us discuss our ideas about what we need to do
together to solve the problems facing the country.
<…>
Answers to media questions
Vladimir
Putin answered questions from Russian and foreign journalists following
the completion of the presidential election.
March
18, 2018
23:40
Moscow
Vladimir
Putin answered questions from Russian and foreign journalists following
the completion of the presidential election.
President
of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good evening.
Question: Good
evening. What is your predominant emotion today? How do you feel, and what
plans do you have for tomorrow?
Vladimir
Putin: The predominant emotion is gratitude to the voters
for their choice, for the trust they have placed in me.
Gratitude for their assessment of our work in these past years
and for the hope they have so clearly demonstrated that we will
continue working, that our expanded team and I, their humble servant, will
continue working as hard as before and that we will achieve even
better results. We have every chance to achieve great practical results.
Question: We
were closely monitoring the election campaign in Russia.
The tragedy with Skripal happened at the height
of the election race. How do you see Russia’s future relations with
Europe? Is Europe a partner or maybe the main opponent?
Vladimir Putin: Regarding the tragedy you have mentioned, I learned about
it from the media. The first thing that comes to mind is that,
had it been a warfare agent, the victims would have died immediately.
It is an obvious fact, which must be taken into account. This is first.
The second
is that Russia does not have such chemical agents. We destroyed all our
chemical weapons, and international observers monitored
the destruction process. Moreover, we were the first to do this,
unlike some of our partners who promised to destroy their chemical
weapons but have not done so to this day, regrettably.
Therefore,
we are ready for cooperation, as we said immediately. We are ready
to take part in any investigations necessary, provided the other
side wants this too. We do not see their interest so far, but we have not
removed the possibility of cooperation on this matter from
the agenda.
As for the overall
situation, I believe that any reasonable person can see that this is total
nonsense. It is unthinkable that anyone on Russia would do such
a thing ahead of the presidential election
and the FIFA World Cup. Absolutely unthinkable.
However,
we are ready for cooperation despite the above things. We are ready
to discuss any issues and to deal with any problems.
Question: The voter
turnout across the country was high but, unfortunately, Ukraine restricted
Russian nationals’ right to vote. What is your opinion? And how can
Russia retaliate?
Vladimir Putin: It is a disgrace. It is a violation of all generally
recognised international norms. But Russia will not retaliate. For us
Ukraine and Ukrainians are a brotherly people. I have always
said that. We will not respond with any restrictions;
on the contrary, we will do everything for Ukrainians
to feel at home in Russia.
Question: Mr
President, yesterday you congratulated President Xi Jinping. You expressed
confidence that bilateral relations will be filled with new content. What kind
of new content?
Vladimir Putin: President Xi Jinping has set very ambitious goals for China’s
development for himself and the country. We wish success
to the Chinese leadership and the Chinese people
in tackling these tasks. These ambitious projects include President Xi
Jinping’s concept of the Silk Road and the economic
component of the Silk Road.
I will
not go into the details of our cooperation but we believe it is
perfectly in line with our projects to build the Eurasian
Economic Union and the Eurasian partnership in a broader sense.
Our
interests here are the same. There are plenty of very practical joint
efforts in this area. And we will continue this work.
China
is our strategic partner. Russia and China enjoy an unprecedented
level of relations. We value them greatly. We congratulate Xi Jinping
on his re-election as President of China for another term
and express confidence that China under his leadership and, on our
part, Russia will by all means do everything to expand the Russia-China
cooperation.
Question: When
should we expect changes in the Government? Before or after
the inauguration?
Vladimir Putin: Any changes in the Government should be made
by the President who has assumed office for the next term.
So, for now, I will be thinking what to do and how.
I think the main changes will happen after the inauguration.
Question: A clarification
follow-up to my colleague’s question: have you decided
on a new Prime Minister? Could it be Dmitry Medvedev again?
And my second
question is, do you have plans to carry out a constitutional reform
during the new presidential term that could be related
to a re-distribution of authority between the branches
of power?
Vladimir Putin: I do not plan any constitutional reforms yet.
As concerns
the Prime Minister and the Government overall, I have
already said that I am thinking about it, of course,
and I will think more specifically starting today because
I needed to wait until the election results. But all
the changes will be announced after the inauguration.
Question: What
do you think about the return of the United States’ Monroe
Doctrine to Latin America?
Vladimir Putin: We know the whole history of relations between
the United States and Latin America. Those are complicated relations
essentially forged by gunboats and certain political
and economic pressure.
But
I really hope that today’s Administration has the opportunity,
and it will indeed take the opportunity to build relations in the 21st century
based on equality and respect for each other’s interests.
We
are interested in a positive development of relations
in the world between states on all continents
and the international agenda proceeding from this premise.
Question: I still
would like to clarify. Do you allow the possibility of becoming
President again in 2030 if you do not change the Constitution?
Vladimir Putin: Listen to me. I think what you are saying is somewhat
ridiculous. Let us count. Am I supposed to be President until
I am 100 years old? No.
Question: Do
you plan to meet with other presidential candidates?
Vladimir Putin: Yes, I do.
Remark: When?
Vladimir Putin: I plan to meet with them. I do not know when yet, we
will see. The Executive Office will contact them, we will agree
and I will invite them to a meeting.
Remark: All
of them?
Vladimir Putin: All of them.
Question: Mr
President, in the next six years, will we see a new Vladimir
Putin or the same one?
Vladimir Putin: Everything changes. Thank you very much.
Remark: Including
you?
Vladimir Putin: We all change.
Vladimir Putin addressed rally on Manezhnaya Square in Moscow
Speaking
at a Russia. Sevastopol. Crimea concert rally on Moscow’s
Manezhnaya Square, the President thanked his supporters.
March
18, 2018
23:00
Moscow
Vladimir
Putin addressed rally on Manezhnaya Square in Moscow.
Vladimir
Putin: Friends,
Thank
you for coming here, to the heart of our nation’s capital,
on this cold Moscow evening. Thank you very much for your support.
I would
like to address those who are here in Moscow tonight, as well
as supporters across our vast country. Thank you very much for this
result.
Remark:
We are your team!
Vladimir
Putin: Exactly! We are a single team, I am a member of this
team, and all those who cast their ballots today are members of our
large national team. For me, this is an acknowledgement, to say
the least, of what we have achieved in recent years despite
the challenging conditions.
I see
this as a sign of trust and hope, the hope of our
people that we will work as hard, with the same responsibility
and effectiveness as before. Thank you for being such
a powerful, millions-strong team. We will definitely succeed.
My dear
friends, it is critical that we preserve this sense of unity. It is
essential that we reach out to those who voted for other candidates.
We need this unity in order to move ahead. And in order
to do so, we need to feel the support of every single
member of our national community.
In our
work, we will not be guided by any momentary considerations or vested
interests. We will focus on the future of our great Motherland,
and the future of our children. That way, we are poised
for success. Thank you very much. Let us undertake a major,
large-scale effort together in the name of Russia.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Vladimir Putin has cast his vote in the Russian presidential elections
The President
of the Russian Federation voted at polling station No 2151,
which is located at the Russian Academy of Sciences
in Gagarinsky District, Moscow.
March 18, 2018
10:00
Moscow
At polling station No. 2151
during Russian presidential elections. Photo: RIA Novosti
* * *
Question: Mr President, what
are your plans for the day?
Vladimir Putin: Work: I have
a couple of work meetings scheduled.
Question: Which percentage
of votes will you consider a success for you?
Vladimir Putin: Any number that
will give me the right to perform the duties
of the President of the Russian Federation.
Question: Mr President, it must be
difficult for you to make a choice: voting for yourself is
awkward. Or are you able to overcome this awkwardness?
Vladimir Putin: Why? There is no
need for me to overcome anything. I am confident
in the correctness of the programme that I offer
for the country’s development.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Presidential Address to the Nation
The incumbent
President of the Russian Federation addressed the nation ahead
of the March 18 presidential election.
March
16, 2018
09:00
President
of Russia Vladimir Putin: Citizens of Russia, friends,
We
will have a presidential election this Sunday, March 18.
As the incumbent president, I believe it is important
to address you ahead of the voting.
Under
the Constitution, people are the only source of power
in the country. There is great meaning in this legal formula.
The path we choose and the future of Russia
and of our children depend on the will
of the people and each Russian citizen.
Which
candidate to choose, and how to realise one’s right
to a free choice? The decision is a personal matter. But if
you avoid taking a decision, the fundamental choice will be made
without due regard for your opinion.
People
in Russia always decided their future themselves, and they always
acted according to their conscience, their personal understanding
of truth and justice, as well as their love
for the country. This is part of our national character, which
the world knows about.
I am
confident that every one of you is concerned about the country’s
future. This is why I ask you to go to the polling stations
this Sunday. Use your power to choose the future of our great
country, Russia, which all of us hold dear.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Speech at the final event of Russia – Land of Opportunity forum
Speaking
at the final event of ”Russia – Land of Opportunity“
forum.
President
of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends, I am very happy to be
here with you, participants of the Russia – Land
of Opportunity forum.
People
of various ages and occupations have gathered here, but all
of you have something in common, something very important. All
of you are talented, active, interesting and amazing people.
You
have passed through various contests and festivals and have achieved
positive results. We have many such people in Russia, from Kaliningrad
to Kamchatka, from Murmansk and Arkhangelsk in the north
to Sochi and Sevastopol.
I will
say that Russia is interested in seeing each of you succeed because
each success contributes to the success of our homeland, Russia.
I would sincerely like you to achieve everything you are striving for of and dreaming
of.
I know,
of course, that many of you will implement your plans; in fact,
all of you can do that. But in order to start this additional
internal engine in each heart, I would like to ask each
of you, can you do it?
Audience: Yes,
I can!
Vladimir
Putin: It would be difficult to expect a different answer from
this audience. And our country, our homeland, our beloved Russia, expects
and wants you to implement all your plans, all your dreams
and ideas, because if this happens, the entire country will develop
along with you. It will look forward to the future; it will be
a country we will all be proud of. We are proud now, and will be
in the future, too.
We
will provide for its future, and we will do this together. Yes?
Audience: Yes!
Vladimir
Putin: I wish you success. Thank you very much.
March
15, 2018
Russia – Land of Opportunity forum
Vladimir
Putin met with the winners and finalists of different projects
of the Russia – Land of Opportunity forum
and delivered a speech at the closing event.
March
15, 2018
18:00
Moscow
Meeting
with the winners and finalists of different projects
of the ”Russia – Land of Opportunity“ forum.
VDNKh
is hosting the forum on March 13–16, where 6,500 participants
from 85 Russian regions at 35 different venues have been discussing
support for the projects that are part of the open
platform Russia ‒ Land of Opportunity.
The main
task of the platform is to create a system
of transparent social lifts, help talented young people
and professionals achieve self-realisation in various fields, support
charity and consolidate the best public initiatives.
*
* *
Conversation
with the winners and finalists of different projects
of the Russia – Land of Opportunity forum
President
of Russia Vladimir Putin: I can already start congratulating
you – all of you are winners – and it is my pleasure
to do so. I know you have passed through a selection process
and achieved the best results in your categories,
in the areas you liked, you chose and now work quite
professionally in. I would like to wish you further success.
You
have the microphone. I believe you would like to set
the tone.
Pavel
Sorokin: Mr President, let me welcome you on behalf of everyone
here. First, I would like to thank you for supporting
the project and the platform. I do not think we would have
had this opportunity without your support.
A month
ago, I met with you as a winner of Leaders of Russia with
my colleagues, and, frankly speaking, I did not think that
my life would change so much after that.
Vladimir Putin: I said it was time to promote you. And you were
promoted.
Pavel
Sorokin: A bit.
Vladimir Putin: A bit? I like that. You have become a deputy
minister, and you say a bit? (Laughs.) You are all
ambitious people, this is good.
Pavel
Sorokin: I meant a bit of the importance…
Vladimir Putin: Have you become a deputy minister?
Pavel
Sorokin: Yes, deputy minister. Thank you very much for your trust
and for the chance to show what I can do. And,
of course, for my boss, Alexander Novak, who supported it all.
I would
like to say a little about the platform, about the last two
days. It has been a very interesting experience, because I talked
a lot with people from other countries and learned new things.
The world is clustering a lot today, dividing into trades
and specialities. There is a lot of specialisation.
I know
this from my own experience, 12 years in the oil industry, you
only mix with your own circle and tend to lose a broader
outlook. The Leaders of Russia contest, the platform itself
breaks down boundaries. I would never have come to meet so many
people from different regions, from totally different areas. Here is
my colleague Oleg Salagai, a medic, there was also Yevgeny
Pokushalov, and many medical professionals. One might think that
the oil industry and medicine have nothing in common.
Vladimir
Putin: You have to get treatment after working in the oil
industry.
(Laughter)
P.
Sorokin: This is exactly what you think – God forbid you get to know
a doctor, unless you know one already. Whereas here I understand that
I can learn a lot from them. And they also gain from this.
And this lifting of boundaries allows for a different
outlook, with bankers, doctors, students, schoolchildren, because
the world is not just specialised, it is also competitive.
We
all know there is a struggle for talent, for brains.
And as you talk with school students here, the winners
of contests, you feel both good and sad. It is good to see so
many talented people, I will turn to one of these talents now.
On the one hand, I understand that most of them have offers
to go abroad – grants and studies that have already been paid
for by foreign companies. And for a person to be
able to progress here, in our country, they must be given not only
money, they must have a platform and a chance
to commercialise a study, that is, an opportunity to bring
a product to a company and to the market. And actually,
this is one of the tasks that is currently set before
the ministry – to create a complete chain from
A to Z so people can show their talent, reveal themselves.
And one
more thing. When we were talking, since there are many gifted people in the Leaders
of Russia, there was a strong need to set up some Leaders
of Russia club for us to be able to exchange opinions,
to discuss professional, internal topics. I think this is a very
good initiative to support, so it does not come down
to a one-time initiative, it could gather, accumulate
the critical mass, then a flow of experience between generations
and people will start.
Speaking
of talent, sitting next to me is Yelizaveta, a very gifted young
woman, winner in the I Am a Professional platform;
I would like to give her the floor.
To be
continued.
