The strengthening of our statehood is, at times, deliberately interpreted as authoritarianism.
Vladimir PutinAs far as I know, Russians are the first among tourists going to Turkey; last year three million Russians visited that country, although its climate zone is almost the same as the one of the Black sea region. Therefore, we have had an important task to develop an infrastructure in this region of the Russian Federation.
Vladimir PutinWe were also going to develop relations with the current administration [of Barack Obama], but somehow they did not work out well in key areas and, I believe, not through our fault. I will not list all the problems that emerged in the past few years.
Vladimir PutinIn accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the issues of foreign policy and defense are fully in the hands of the president.
Vladimir PutinTake the creation of the Pacific partnership or the creation of the Atlantic partnership. We are somewhat concerned because this is being done bypassing the World Trade Organisation, since it has proved impossible to reach compromise solutions with developing economies within the framework of that organisation. Is that good? Not really, in my opinion.
Vladimir Putin