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Putin has been immediately misquoted and his words twisted so, if you have the time, here is the full press conference unedited
Putin annual media Q&A marathon 2015 (FULL PRESSER)
If you've got less time here is RT's summary
If you've got less time here is RT's summary
Putin Q&A wrap up: Key points of 3-hours-long presser
Vladimir
Putin's 11th annual press conference lasted 3 hours, 8 minutes, much
the same as the similar event a year ago. During the event, Putin
answered questions from 32 Russian and foreign journalists
Vladimir Putin's 11th annual press conference lasted 3 hours, 8 minutes, much the same as the similar event a year ago. During the event, Putin answered questions from 32 Russian and foreign journalists
Putin’s best Q&A quotes from ‘Ankara sucking up to US’ to ‘Trump being absolute frontrunner’
Never
at loss for words, Putin was as straight-forward as ever at his
annual Q&A session. Russian relations with Turkey, the Syrian and
Ukrainian crises, as well as the US presidential race were the
highlights of the 3-hour long marathon attended by 1,400 journalists.
When
asked about third party interests contributing to the deterioration
of Russia-Turkey relations, Putin wondered if Washington might have
something to do with it.
©
Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik
“We don’t know that for sure, but if someone in the Turkish leadership wanted to suck up to the Americans, I’m not sure whether they did the right thing or not,” he said.
“First
of all I don’t know whether the Americans need it or not, it’s
possible there was a certain agreement on some level: ‘we down a
Russian plane and you turn a blind eye,’ ‘we deploy our troops to
Iraq and occupy a part of Iraq’.”
©
Michael Klimentyev / Sputnik
Russia
won’t cease its military campaign in Syria because of the Su-24
downing, even if Ankara expected that, said Putin.
“[Ankara]
thought we would flee [Syria]! No, Russia is not a country to act
like that. We increased our presence in Syria; we increased the
strength of our air forces. There were no anti-aircraft weapon
systems there before – now there is the S-400,”
he said.
“Turkey
used to violate Syrian airspace on a regular basis, now let’s see
them fly there”
©
Michael Klimentyev / Sputnik
Operating a full-fledged base in Syria is not on Russia’s agenda, Putin said.
“Why
would we need a base over there? We can get them [if we have
to]," Putin
said, stressing that the temporary units of the Russian task force
currently operating in Syria could be withdrawn within a couple of
days.
©
Sergey Guneev / Sputnik
Putin
reiterated that, despite constant accusations, no regular Russian
troops have been stationed in Ukraine.
“We
never said there were no people fulfilling certain tasks there (in
Donbass region of Ukraine), including in the military sphere. But
that does not mean there are regular Russian troops. Feel the
difference?”
Putin said.
©
Natalia Seliverstova / Sputnik
After the main part of the Q&A session was over, Putin was asked about his attitude towards Donald Trump.
“It’s
not our business to define his accomplishments,”
Putin said. “But
he is the absolute leader of the presidential race [in the US]”.
“He
is a bright, talented person, no doubt about that,” Putin
added. Trump recently stated he would like to see the US strengthen
ties with Russia. “We
welcome that of course,” said
Putin.
Earlier
in the same Q&A session, Putin had said he was prepared to work
with whoever turns out to be victorious in the 2016 US presidential
election.
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