I repeat that, in my opinion, the European Commission and the leading European economies are acting very pragmatically and are on the right path.

We cannot decide for the American people.

Russia hosts a lot of forums, including the International Economic Forum in St Petersburg, [usually in the beginning of summer], as well as the Economic Forum in Sochi.

I have been to Tokyo and several other cities, but I have never been to Yamaguchi Prefecture. I wonder what it is like, what interesting things it has to offer. I am sure that Prime Minister [ Shinzō] Abe will tell me all about it.

The mutual sympathy of our peoples is and will remain the foundation of our relations [with Germany].

Equipping one side of an ethnic conflict and then prodding it to resolve its ethnic problems by force of arms is a very bad policy.

I was brought up in a very ordinary family, in fact, a worker's family. Both my father and mother were ordinary citizens.