Democracy is an internal subject of the developing society. There are fundamentals of democracy, and they should be understood universally in different countries.

I am in regular contact with Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe. We have met several times this year [2016].

Everyone must be equal before the law, abide by it, pay their taxes and bear the punishment should they break the law.

Indeed, that is exactly what they [the Arctic convoys] were. We know that the conditions in which they fought were appalling. Time and again they faced death in the name of a common victory and we remember that.

In the soul of a Russian person there is always a drive toward some kind of lofty moral ideal, lofty moral values. That definitely sets us apart, and I'm certain it's in a good way.

If Britain pursues a more independent foreign policy, it might be possible then. And if it is guided by commitments to its allies and considers this to be of a bigger national interest than its cooperation with Russia, so be it.

As a rule, [populism] is done for the sake of political expediency by those who do not care about the consequences, who do not think even one step ahead, who do not want to think and do not intend to honour their commitments.