Vladimir Putin quotes - page 2

It's better not to argue with women. (Vladimir Putin)
Above all, we should acknowledge that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a major geopolitical disaster of the century. As for the Russian nation, it became a genuine drama. Tens of millions of our co-citizens and compatriots found themselves outside Russian territory. Moreover, the epidemic of disintegration infected Russia itself. View quote
Vladimir Putin
Their [U. S. ] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia's. This is what in defense is referred to as "their home - their fortress". And good for them, I say. Well done! View quote
Vladimir Putin
There is no one to talk to since Mahatma Gandhi died. View quote
Vladimir Putin
In order to preserve a balance, while we aren't planning to build a missile defence of our own, as it's very expensive and its efficiency is not quite clear yet, we have to develop offensive strike systems. They [U. S. ] should give us all the information about the missile defence, and we will be ready then to provide some information about offensive weapons. View quote
Vladimir Putin
In any case, I'd rather not deal with such questions, because anyway it's like shearing a pig – lots of screams but little wool. View quote
Vladimir Putin
I am the wealthiest man, not just in Europe, but in the whole world. I collect emotions. View quote
Vladimir Putin
But if the U. S. were to leave and abandon Iraq without establishing the grounds for a united and sovereign country, that would definitely be a second mistake. View quote
Vladimir Putin
I am personally acquainted with Mr Gates, I have met him on several occasions. I think he is a very nice man and not a bad specialist. But Mr Gates, of course, was one of the leaders of the US Central Intelligence Agency and today he is defense secretary. If he also happens to be America's leading expert on democracy, I congratulate you. View quote
Vladimir Putin
It's extremely dangerous trying to resolve political problems outside the framework of the law - first the ‘Rose Revolution', then they'll think up something like blue. [word play here: "rose" having the colloquial sense of "lesbian" in modern Russian, and "blue" meaning "gay"]. View quote
Vladimir Putin
If minorities prefer Sharia Law, then we advise them to go to those places where that's the state law... We will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell ‘discrimination. (Vladimir Putin)
If you want to become an Islamic fundamentalist and be circumcised, come to Moscow. We are multiconfessional. We have very good specialists. I can recommend one for the operation. He'll make sure nothing grows back. View quote
Vladimir Putin
Russians have different far lofty ambitions; more of a spiritual kind. It's more about your relationship with God. View quote
Vladimir Putin
I realise that 2008 will be an important test for Russia, and not an easy one. At the same time, the Constitution of the Russian Federation states that the President, the head of state, is elected for four years through direct secret ballot and cannot stay in office for more than two consecutive terms. I am not indifferent of course to the question of who will take in their hands the destiny of the country I have devoted my life to serving. But if each successive head of state were to change the Constitution to suit them, we would soon find ourselves without a state at all. I think that Russia's different political forces are sufficiently mature to realise their responsibility to the people of the Russian Federation. In any case, the person who receives the votes of the majority of Russian citizens will become the President of the country. View quote
Vladimir Putin
If there is no possibility or, to put it in plain terms, if there is no money... What can you do? You can't go to a store, you can't buy anything, either a cannon, or a missile, or a medicine. For this reason the economy is at the basis of everything. In the beginning it was Karl Marx and then Freud and others... View quote
Vladimir Putin
New Year's Eve is literally filled with good cheer and happy thoughts, as we all try to put our best foot forward. This openness and generosity are the spirit of this wonderful holiday, when it is so important to warm parents' hearts with kindness and loving care, to hug them if they are near you, and to tell everyone around you how dear they are to you and that happiness is all about love, children, family, and friends. View quote
Vladimir Putin
Terrorism has once again shown it is prepared deliberately to stop at nothing in creating human victims. An end must be put to this. As never before, it is vital to unite forces of the entire world community against terror. View quote
Vladimir Putin
At least the state figure should have a head. View quote
Vladimir Putin
But this means that we also need to build our home and make it strong and well protected. We see, after all, what is going on in the world. "The Comrade Wolf knows whom to eat, as the saying goes. It knows whom to eat and is not about to listen to anyone, it seems." View quote
Vladimir Putin
A superpower is a cold war term. When people today say that Russia aspires to have this status, I interpret it in the following way: they want to undermine trust in Russia, to portray Russia as frightening, and create some kind of image of an enemy. ... Russia is in favor of a multipolar world, a democratic world order, strengthening the system of international law, and for developing a legal system in which any small country, even a very small country, can feel itself secure, as if behind a stone wall. ... Russia is ready to become part of this multipolar world and guarantee that the international community observes these rules. And not as a superpower with special rights, but rather as an equal among equals. View quote
Vladimir Putin
Mr McCain fought in Vietnam. I think that he has enough blood of peaceful citizens on his hands. It must be impossible for him to live without these disgusting scenes anymore. Mr McCain was captured and they kept him not just in prison, but in a pit for several years, Anyone [in his place] would go nuts. (Vladimir Putin)
Why don't you meet Osama bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or to the White House and engage in talks, ask him what he wants and give it to him so he leaves you in peace? You find it possible to set some limitations in your dealings with these bastards, so why should we talk to people who are child-killers? No one has a moral right to tell us to talk to childkillers. View quote
Vladimir Putin
We in Russia have always considered Russians and Ukrainians to be one people. I still think so.”. View quote
Vladimir Putin
Russia has made its choice in favor of democracy. Fourteen years ago, independently, without any pressure from outside, it made that decision in the interests of itself and interests of its people - of its citizens. This is our final choice, and we have no way back. There can be no return to what we used to have before. And the guarantee for this is the choice of the Russian people, themselves. No, guarantees from outside cannot be provided. This is impossible. It would be impossible for Russia today. Any kind of turn towards totalitarianism for Russia would be impossible, due to the condition of the Russian society. View quote
Vladimir Putin
We will find them anywhere on the planet and punish them. Our Air Force's military work in Syria must not simply be continued. It must be intensified in such a way that the criminals understand that vengeance is inevitable. View quote
Vladimir Putin