Without perestroika, the cold war simply would not have ended. But the world could not continue developing as it had, with the stark menace of nuclear war ever present.

Life punishes those who come too late.

Sometimes when you stand face to face with someone, you cannot see his face.

I am an optimist and I believe that together we shall be able now to make the right historical choice so as not to miss the great chance at the turn of centuries and millenia and make the current extremely difficult transition to a peaceful world order.

Even today, a majority of people surveyed say that they regret the fact that the USSR collapsed. But only 9 percent say that they would want it back.

The forests of Russia and Brazil are the lungs of the Earth.

To me, nature is sacred. Trees are my temples and forests are my cathedrals.