Quotes By Vladimir Putin

Russia will not soon become, if it ever becomes, a second copy of the United States or England - where liberal value have deep historic roots.

You must obey the law, always, not only when they grab you by your special place.

Russia is a part of European culture. Therefore, it is with difficulty that I imagine NATO as an enemy.

Terrorism has once again shown it is prepared deliberately to stop at nothing in creating human victims. An end must be put to this. As never before, it is vital to unite forces of the entire world community against terror.

The ability to compromise is not a diplomatic politeness toward a partner but rather taking into account and respecting your partner's legitimate interests.

The democratic choice Russian people made in the early 90's is final.

Nobody and nothing will stop Russia on the road to strengthening democracy and ensuring human rights and freedoms.

History proves that all dictatorships, all authoritarian forms of government are transient. Only democratic systems are not transient. Whatever the shortcomings, mankind has not devised anything superior.

Anyone who doesn't regret the passing of the Soviet Union has no heart. Anyone who wants it restored has no brains.

We shall fight against them, throw them in prisons and destroy them.

Nobody should pin their hopes on a miracle.

Indeed, Russia and the U.S. were allies during the two tragic conflicts of the Second and the First World Wars, which allows us to think there's something objectively bringing us together in difficult times, and I think - I believe - it has to do with geopolitical interests and also has a moral component.

Political activities in Russia should be as transparent as possible. Financing political activities from abroad is something the state should keep an eye on.

Our aims are absolutely clear: They are a high living standard in the country and a secure, free and comfortable life.

I believe that the presidential term should be limited.

The path towards a free society has not been simple. There are tragic and glorious pages in our history.

I see that not everyone in the West has understood that the Soviet Union has disappeared from the political map of the world and that a new country has emerged with new humanist and ideological principles at the foundation of its existence.

The strengthening of our statehood is, at times, deliberately interpreted as authoritarianism.

I think the American people should express their preferences, and we'll accept their choice.

Yes, life in Chechnya so far looks more like a life after a natural disaster.

I believe the U.S. already understands and will understand more and more that only a strong Russia will respond to the genuine interests of the United States.

To pay more is the easy way. In fact, the solution possibilities to the problem are many.

No references to the need to fight terror can be an argument for restricting human rights.

We don't need a weakened government but a strong government that would take responsibility for the rights of the individual and care for the society as a whole.

Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain.

Russia needs a strong state power and must have it. But I am not calling for totalitarianism.

Russia does not want confrontation of any kind. And we will not take part in any kind of 'holy alliance.'

Russia does not have in its possession any trustworthy data that supports the existence of nuclear weapons or any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and we have not received any such information from our partners as yet.