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

It scares me when the Europeans demand more and more democracy. It sounds like times past, when people here demanded more and more socialism.

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.

For the next decades, Europe will not be a model that is attractive to Russia.

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

I am of the opinion that we shouldn't turn away from Europe. We have to find ways to revitalize our relations.

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