But if the U.S. were to leave now and abandon Iraq without establishing the grounds for a united country, that would definitely be a second mistake.

We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord's blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.

Concerning 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.

Addressing issues, including controversial ones, as well as domestic issues of the former Soviet Republics through the so-called coloured revolutions, through coups and unconstitutional means of toppling the current government. That is absolutely unacceptable.

Berlusconi is being tried because he lives with women. If he was homosexual, no one would have lifted a finger against him.

I was told that [Japan journalists] wanted to see my dog, Yume. You can see that she is in great shape.

I am never guided by a possible assessment of my work.