The participants expressed anxiety about the problems the Defense Ministry had been meeting in realizing its plans for future development.
Vladimir PutinThe Russians have turned out to be the largest divided nation in the world nowadays. Is that not a problem?
Vladimir PutinIt is not what your supporters, friends or your political adversaries call you that matters. What is important is what you think you must do in the interests of the country, which put you in such position, such post as the Head of the Russian State.
Vladimir PutinI was told that [Japan journalists] wanted to see my dog, Yume. You can see that she is in great shape.
Vladimir PutinSome years ago our Japanese counterparts asked us to resume the discussions of the issue and so we did meeting them halfway. Over the passed couple of years the contacts were practically frozen on the initiative of the Japanese side, not ours. At the same time, presently our partners have expressed their eagerness to resume discussions on this issue [the Kuril Islands].
Vladimir Putin