Russia itself is a European country, and not just because our major political and economic centres are in Europe, but because Russian culture is primarily European culture.

I do not think I am entitled to assess the President of the United States. This is up to the American people.

We have never meddled in the domestic affairs of any state and we never will.

Therefore today we have an absolutely sufficient level of gold and foreign currency reserves in order to ensure economic stability and sustainable foreign trade turnover.

The West's sanctions are not aimed at helping Ukraine, but at geo-politically pushing Russia back. They are foolish and are merely harming both sides.

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

We have made mistakes! We were too late. If we had presented our national interests more clearly from the beginning, the world would still be in balance today.