Irrespective of when this may happen, it would not be an exaggeration to say that today millions of people living in Russia and, I am sure, millions of people living in Japan have an urge to get to know each other, cooperate and exchange useful information, as well as a sincere desire that all problems that still remain unresolved be resolved.
Vladimir PutinI would prefer to abandon the terminology of the past. 'Superpower' is something which we used during the cold war time. Why use it now?
Vladimir PutinAs far as I understand, the president-elect of the United States [Donald Trump] is ready for such joint work. We do not know yet what it will be like in actual practice. We have to wait for him to take office and form his administration.
Vladimir PutinAs for the President-elect [Donald Trump], he has his own views on things, and this is also fairly natural.
Vladimir PutinNobody should have any illusion about the possibility of gaining military superiority over Russia. We will never allow this to happen.
Vladimir PutinConcerning our possibilities on the international financial markets, the sanctions are severely harming Russia. But the biggest harm is currently caused by the decline of the prices for energy. We suffer dangerous revenue losses in our export of oil and gas, which we can partly compensate for elsewhere. But the whole thing also has a positive side: if you earn so many petrodollars - as we once did - that you can buy anything abroad, this slows down developments in your own country.
Vladimir Putin