11:30
17.4.2014
11:29
17.4.2014
11:29
17.4.2014
Now Putin says West Ukraine not really Ukraine either.
Q: For 22 years Ukraine opposed Russia. It was part of their strategy. The most horrible thing is that we have seen this come into bloom because the country is turning "nationalist, even Nazi." How can we get our point across? Can we persuade the west to listen and understand us?
Putin: I would disagree with you here. I disagree that Ukraine is a damned land. This land of Ukraine suffered a lot and it's a complicated community. The parts that have Naziism are in the West of Ukraine. That land was largely divided in the past -- never were they full scale citizens of those countries.
The Novorossiya part of Ukraine is deeply rooted in the Russian state and mentality. Now they are part of this different Ukraine, put in place "part-by-part" by the Soviet Union.
Q: For 22 years Ukraine opposed Russia. It was part of their strategy. The most horrible thing is that we have seen this come into bloom because the country is turning "nationalist, even Nazi." How can we get our point across? Can we persuade the west to listen and understand us?
Putin: I would disagree with you here. I disagree that Ukraine is a damned land. This land of Ukraine suffered a lot and it's a complicated community. The parts that have Naziism are in the West of Ukraine. That land was largely divided in the past -- never were they full scale citizens of those countries.
The Novorossiya part of Ukraine is deeply rooted in the Russian state and mentality. Now they are part of this different Ukraine, put in place "part-by-part" by the Soviet Union.
11:23
17.4.2014
More history lessons from Putin
Q: Who benefits from myth that Russian armed forces are going to attack Ukraine? Who's trying to alienate us from our brothers and partners. Can we invite people to border regions with Ukraine.
Putin: Desire to cause division between Russia and Ukraine has been happening for centuries. Former tsarist leaders always considered this territory as part of one state. Now the attempts to divide one people who happen to be in two states continue.
Q: Who benefits from myth that Russian armed forces are going to attack Ukraine? Who's trying to alienate us from our brothers and partners. Can we invite people to border regions with Ukraine.
Putin: Desire to cause division between Russia and Ukraine has been happening for centuries. Former tsarist leaders always considered this territory as part of one state. Now the attempts to divide one people who happen to be in two states continue.
11:19
17.4.2014
Putin: Russia created conditions with armed forces, but did not force Crimea into Russia. It was a natural process.
11:19
17.4.2014
Now onto Transdniester.
Putin: People are really pro-Russian. We have to work with partners, but we must immediately remove blockade between Transdniester and Ukraine.
People should be given the right to decide this right. This can only be decided by people who actually live in Transdniester [a breakaway region of Moldova].
Putin: People are really pro-Russian. We have to work with partners, but we must immediately remove blockade between Transdniester and Ukraine.
People should be given the right to decide this right. This can only be decided by people who actually live in Transdniester [a breakaway region of Moldova].
11:16
17.4.2014
Putin: We shouldn't be euphoric about what's happening. We should be honest about the reality. The ethnic makeup of Ukraine is different in the East. These regions were given to Ukraine "for some reason."
We must fight for these people. The Federation Council gave me the right to use armed forces in Ukraine but "I hope" I won't have to use this right.
We must fight for these people. The Federation Council gave me the right to use armed forces in Ukraine but "I hope" I won't have to use this right.
11:13
17.4.2014
Irina Prokhorova: We have persecution against modern artists. People accusing them of all sorts of mortal sins. Culture is becoming a slave to ideology. Will this deprive Russia of status as a great cultural power.
Putin: To be honest, I don't feel any special tension. Everyone is free to express their opinions. No one is "sent to labor camps." People express their opinions freely and those people who do so are sound and healthy. It's only natural that there are other people who oppose them -- some of our intellectuals are not used to that. They believe that what they say is the absolute truth and when they hear an objection they become very emotional.
In World War I, people also called for defeat of their own country and that started the revolution.
Putin: To be honest, I don't feel any special tension. Everyone is free to express their opinions. No one is "sent to labor camps." People express their opinions freely and those people who do so are sound and healthy. It's only natural that there are other people who oppose them -- some of our intellectuals are not used to that. They believe that what they say is the absolute truth and when they hear an objection they become very emotional.
In World War I, people also called for defeat of their own country and that started the revolution.
11:09
17.4.2014
Host introducing anti-Crima questioner: You probably know that the people who disagree with the reunification of Crimea with Russia have been very local. Some are calling at people to shoot at Russian soldiers.
Irina Khamamada: You have indeed conducted an operation without making a shot. Only people who started the war will be able to put an end to the war.
As long as Russia and U.S. continue to hold onto its views and war will spill over to whole former Soviet space. No one wants this. Do you think Russia can offer a compromise between Russia and the U.S. -- one the one hand there will be elections, on the other hand there will be regionalization.
Putin: Compromise can't be found between outside parties, but among internal political forces themselves.
Mentions that under the Tsar, the places in Eastern Ukraine were called Novorossiya, but given up by Soviet leaders. Why did they do that? Only God knows.
Irina Khamamada: You have indeed conducted an operation without making a shot. Only people who started the war will be able to put an end to the war.
As long as Russia and U.S. continue to hold onto its views and war will spill over to whole former Soviet space. No one wants this. Do you think Russia can offer a compromise between Russia and the U.S. -- one the one hand there will be elections, on the other hand there will be regionalization.
Putin: Compromise can't be found between outside parties, but among internal political forces themselves.
Mentions that under the Tsar, the places in Eastern Ukraine were called Novorossiya, but given up by Soviet leaders. Why did they do that? Only God knows.
10:57
17.4.2014
On journalism and patriotism
Journalist from "Kommersant": "I'm really very concerned that lots of young people have a distorted view of the world. I have to put in a lot of effort to explain to colleagues that patriotism and idiotism are not the same thing. It's out of fashion to be a patriot now."
Putin responds with a dig at journalists: "Maybe in your circle it's not fashionable."
If even you as a journalist were touched and troubled, that means that the patriotism is rooted deeply in you too.
Journalist from "Kommersant": "I'm really very concerned that lots of young people have a distorted view of the world. I have to put in a lot of effort to explain to colleagues that patriotism and idiotism are not the same thing. It's out of fashion to be a patriot now."
Putin responds with a dig at journalists: "Maybe in your circle it's not fashionable."
If even you as a journalist were touched and troubled, that means that the patriotism is rooted deeply in you too.