There is also a huge potential for developing the aviation and space industries. As you might have noticed we have launched a new Russian spaceport in one of the Far Eastern regions.

There is no uniform, global model for democracy.

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

The nationalists' coup in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev in February 2014 has hugely scared 2.5 million Russian people living on Crimea. So what did we do? We have not gone to war, we have not fired, not a single person was killed. Our soldiers have merely prevented the Ukrainian troops on Crimea from impeding the freedom of expression of the people.

I'd rather not deal with such questions, because anyway it's like shearing a pig - lots of screams but little wool.

[Egon] Bahr even said: If Russia agreed to the NATO expansion, he would never come to Moscow again.

I go to the gym, I swim daily and from time to time I meet with friends and do extra-curricular stuff.