Russian politics was focused for too long on fixing past mistakes - fixing the mistakes made in the 1990s.

Russians aren't good at haggling, they aren't passionate about business. But they are outstanding fighters.

Russian politics was focused for too long on fixing past mistakes - fixing the mistakes made in the 1990s.

American politicians have openly said that the sanctions are aimed at bringing about regime change in Russia. That's aggressive enough.

We want to prevent further destabilization in the world. And we want the status of being a great power: We unfortunately cannot relinquish that. In the last 300 years, this status has become a part of our genetic makeup. We want to be the heart of greater Eurasia, a region of peace and cooperation. The subcontinent of Europe will also belong to this Eurasia.

In a crisis, we will destroy exactly the weapons. Russia will never again fight on its own territory .

The political elite in Russia don't want domestic reform, they aren't ready for it. As such, they welcome an external threat. You have to remember that Russia rests on two national concepts: defense and sovereignty. We approach the question of security much more reverentially than other countries do.