We will not allow the past to drag us down and stop us from moving ahead. We understand where we should move.
Vladimir PutinWe have already begun taking concrete steps to change the structure of our economy and, as we have discussed a great deal, to give it a more innovative quality.
Vladimir PutinRussia 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.
Vladimir PutinChanging things is not easy, and I say this without any irony. It is not that someone does not want to, but because it is a hard thing to do. Take Obama, a forward-thinking man, a liberal, a democrat. Did he not pledge to shut down Guantanamo before his election? But did he do it? No, he did not. And may I ask why not? Did he not want to do it? He wanted to, I am sure he did, but it did not work out. He sincerely wanted to do it, but did not succeed, since it turned out to be very complicated.
Vladimir Putin