I always had a problem when someone was trying to place sport in social and political context. Sport is a separate and unique kind of human activity, which functions under its own rules and principles. It has nothing to do with the political agenda, and neither it should. When politics interferes with sport, unjust things happen.
Vladimir PutinWe have made mistakes! We were too late. If we had presented our national interests more clearly from the beginning, the world would still be in balance today.
Vladimir PutinEven if we do not always agree on every aspect, nobody should take this as an excuse to declare us as enemies.
Vladimir PutinIf Russia's interests and security are threatened, Russia will resist. Everyone needs to know that.
Vladimir PutinJapan has joined the sanctions against the Russian Federation. How are we going to further economic relations on a new and much higher basis, at a higher level under the sanctions regime?
Vladimir PutinWe had a very good situation in 2005. The common budget had a volume of 80 billion dollars per year. Thousands of jobs were created in Germany by Russian investments. At the same time, a large number of German companies invested in Russia. There were countless cultural and social contacts.
Vladimir Putin