Peskov reminds everyone to change the microphone covers after each question as a sanitary measure.
- By Mike Eckel
Putin takes a hard-hitting first question from Magadan -- "Was this a good year, or was there anything bad?" -- and launches into 10-minute-long disquisition on the pandemic, interest rates, real growth in incomes and "the Russian identity." (among other things)
Next question is from state TV and radio in Moscow. Asks about the "state of the health-care system." "How well has it handled the crisis? How will further reforms be modified in light of the pandemic experience?"
State news agency TASS quotes Putin as saying Russia is beginning to reduce its reliance on energy exports. Literal translation: starting to get off the oil-and-gas needle.
Putin says Russia's health-care system is unique in the world. Begins by answering the question "in comparison with the rest of the world," saying Russia's system worked best. Says at the beginning of the pandemic, Russia immediately closed its borders and won time to react. Putin says number of hospital beds was increased dramatically and 40 new medical centers were created. "This speaks of our capacity to quickly react to any situation," he said. Talks about efforts to increase the supplies of medicines. Says the situation is improving and that the main problems are "logistical." Says Russia is in the top three worldwide in testing. Says Russia is producing the necessary medicines on its own. Praises the Russian vaccine.
- By Mike Eckel
Putin takes the second question, about the state of Russia's health-care system and COVID and defends the government's response:
He says: no health-care system anywhere in the world was ready for the pandemic. But our health care was better than most others.
As of December 17: Russia reported 2,736,727 cumulative cases of coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University. The Russia government's official figure for deaths is 49,151.
Putin says 70 percent of Russia’s federal budget now comes from sources other than oil and gas. “If someone wants to present us as a gas station, this no longer has a basis in reality,” he says, in an apparent reference to the late Senator John McCain calling Russia “a gas station masquerading as a country” in a 2014 interview.
According to figures from the country’s Finance Ministry, 51 percent of the Russian federal budget came from oil and gas in 2014, compared to 39 percent in 2019.
Says that Russia had plenty of problems but overall the health-care system reacted to the pandemic effectively.
A frequent refrain on COVID: Putin suggests we're all in the same boat but asserts Russia's boat is more seaworthy than others. Some would beg to differ.