Putin on poetry:
Lermontov was in the opposition, but he was also a patriot.
Putin: Fine line between opposition and "fifth column"
Putin: My actions were aimed at consolidating society, not dividing it. Maybe I should be more careful in my public statement, but one cannot be too careful -- sometimes we have to call things what they are.
It's a fine line to define when the opposition ends and the 5th column starts.
Putin on controversial health reforms, which have sparked Moscow protests:
We should focus on high-tech solutions. There are 30 percent more beds in hospitals than needed. This is wasted land and electricity. We should allocate that money to the quality of our medical system instead.
I am focusing on my own opinions, not recent actions by Moscow government -- although I think those decisions were right-minded.
WHO IS INTERESTED IN THE RUBLE'S BEHAVIOR NOW?
Putin: If Ukraine is to preserve its territorial integrity it has to respect everyone who lives there. I do believe this is the path they will take. But...
Putin calling separatist fighters "militia representatives"
Most eyes are on Putin's presser in Moscow right now, but RFE/RL's Rikard Jozwiak has been keeping tabs on events in Brussels:
European Union leaders are expected today to adopt an investment ban that targets firms and individuals in the Crimean peninsula and the city of Sevastopol.
The vote in Brussels was scheduled after EU foreign ministers in November decided the EU's non-recognition policy toward Russia's annexation of Crimea needs to be bolstered with tougher sanctions.
The ban would prohibit EU citizens and EU-registered companies from buying real estate on the Crimean peninsula, from setting up joint ventures with Crimean companies, and from buying Crimean firms, their shares, or other securities.
It also would ban the sale, export, or transport of goods using EU-registered vessels and aircraft to Crimean firms in the sectors of transport, telecommunications, energy, or the exploration and production of oil, gas, and mineral resources.
The tourism sector would be targeted with a ban on port calls by EU cruise ships at any ports on the Crimean Peninsula.