Peskov and Putin agree that he will answer "two or three" more questions and then conclude.
Next question is also about the possible extension of the New START treaty. Journalist asks if there will be a new arms race if it is not extended.
Putin repeats that Russia wants to extend New START, but that if nothing happens by February, it will lapse. He says there is already a new arms race, which started "when the U.S. abandoned the ABM treaty." Since then, he says, Russia has been both developing its own missile defense and developing weapons designed to penetrate U.S. ABM systems.
Says the U.S. will soon develop hypersonic missiles (as Russia already has) and that Russia is working on defenses against them. Putin then mentions all the new weapons systems that Russia has been developing in recent years.
Peskov notes that we have passed the four-hour mark for this year's press conference.
Next question is from a journalist from Novgorod. Says her region has a problem with housing for students in colleges and institutes. Putin says this is a general problem across the country and the federal government is trying to help, but the main responsibility is with the educational institutions themselves.
Next question: Journalist asks if there should be some sort of "international certificate" allowing people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel.
Putin says that idea can be discussed but it is still not clear whether a vaccinated person can spread the virus. He emphasizes that the vaccine is a means of protecting your own health.
Journalist also asked about the growth of the National Welfare Fund. Putin calls it a "safety cushion" that must be in place. He also notes that there is a law on how money from the fund can be spent (only when it exceeds 7 percent of GNP). Putin says that money from the fund is being used to fill the budget deficit, including to finance pandemic-related assistance. Says more than 300 billion rubles have been taken from the fund this year.
"But we are using it carefully," he said.
Putin comes out with full-throated praise for the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, whom rights defenders in Russia and abroad accuse of severe human rights abuses. Without evidence, suggests criticism of Kadyrov is part of a Western effort to undermine Russia.
Same Chechen journalist asks another question about Russia's relations with the Arab world and Kadyrov's role in those relations. Putin says Russia has good relations with the Islamic and Arab worlds. Says they have been a priority back to Soviet times. Says that the extent of Russia's activity in this area is expanding all the time and Russia will continue to develop it.