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Putin Says Sanctions On Russia Nothing To Do With Ukraine
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Putin Says Sanctions On Russia Nothing To Do With Ukraine

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Putin Says Sanctions On Russia Nothing To Do With Ukraine

Russia

Live Blog: Putin Holding Televised Q&A

Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting his annual question-and-answer show with the nation.

Final Summary

-- In his annual question-and-answer session with the public, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Western sanctions are aimed at restraining Russia, asserting that Moscow's role in the crisis and conflict in Ukraine are only a pretext for the punitive measures imposed by the European Union, United States, and other nations.​

-- He said that "the Russian army is not in Ukraine," repeating Moscow's denial that it has sent troops to aid pro-Russian rebels.

-- Putin highlighted the recent rise of Russia's ruble currency, which has gained more than 20 percent in 2015 after a steep decline last year. He also touted high oil production figures and a good harvest. He said Russians are living longer and death rates decreasing.

-- Putin linked his decision to lift a ban on supplying Iran with surface-to-air S-300 missiles with what he said was Tehran's demonstrated desire to resolve a yearslong dispute over its nuclear program, which Western nations fear is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

-- Putin took on comparisons that suggest parallels between the reigns of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin, saying that "Nazism and Stalinism cannot be put on the same desk...because the Nazis directly, openly, and publicly announced as one of their goals the annihilation of concrete ethnic groups -- Jews, Gypsies, Slavs."

-- He described the killing of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov as "tragic and shameful" and praised investigators for identifying and arresting five suspects days after Nemstov was gunned down steps from the Kremlin on February 27.

-- Putin said his country will never be a "vassal" of the United States. He said there are "superpowers" that "consider themselves the only center of power in the world."

Q: We liberated these nations [talking about Europe]; they would be saluting Hitler were it not for us...then why do they disrespect us like this? How should we respond?

Putin: We'll always respect their decisions. If they wish to show respect to the victims of Nazis and pay tribute to those who fought, then we welcome them (referring to V-Day celebrations on May 9, which many Western leaders are refusing to attend.).

Murder of Ukrainian journalist Oles Buzina was announced by Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Anton Gerashenko 16 minutes ago. Made it into the Putin Q and A within 10 minutes. Some reporters look shocked.

Konstantin Remchukov from Nezavisimaya Gazeta:

I'm one of those people who believes in positive relations with the West. It seems the more you hate something else, the more you love your motherland. What are the conditions for you to normalize relations with the West and how will the government tackle radical nationalism in Russia?

Putin: I wouldn't compare xenophobia with patriotism. We will always fight nationalism.

To normalize relations, the first step is to respect Russia. We are ready for cooperation and we will continue to cooperate with whoever wants to do business with us.

Putin on status of "republics": Donbas people will decide

Question from a Donestsk resident, currently in Russia: What are the prospects of being separated from Kyiv?

Putin: First of all, we need to get life back to normal in these territories that you call the republics. Of course, it's the people of Donbas who have the ultimate right to decide. It will depend on the flexibility and wisdom of the Ukrainian leadership."

Moving on to Ukrainian refugees in Russia:

Putin on surrounding countries with large ethnic-Russian populations:

Putin: We don't care if a Russian citizen lives here on this territory or across the border. If their rights are not infringed upon then we don't care. It's not that we want to keep those countries in our sphere of influence, it's a "natural integration process." When we do the same thing as others in Canada and Europe they say "we're rebuilding an empire...No"

Putin: There was no alienation of Ukraine. It's a sovereign country and you should respect that. We made the decision in the 1990s to liberate them, now we have to respect their decisions.

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