Channel One war correspondent Dmitry Kulko and VGTRK presenter Alexandra Suvorova moderated the Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin.
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Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office – Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov: Good afternoon everyone.
The President will be here within minutes to review the results of the outgoing year. I would like to remind you that this year we combine two events, the news conference and Direct Line.
Please show respect for your colleagues when I give the floor to journalists and make your questions as concise and clear as possible. This will allow the President to answer more questions.
Our moderators this year are Alexandra Suvorova and Dmitry Kulko, who will talk with the President. They worked hard to personally read extremely many questions from our people, possibly tens of thousands of them. They understand what the people of Russia are talking about and will help the President outline the subjects that are at the top of the agenda throughout the country.
Please.
Alexandra Suvorova: Good afternoon. This is the Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin. As usual, questions can be submitted in a number of ways until the end of our programme. Our colleagues continue working with the incoming questions.
First, you can submit your questions by calling 8 (800) 200 4040 or sending an SMS or MMS message to 04040. Questions can also be submitted via the programme’s official accounts on Vkontakte and Odnoklassniki. You can also use the website and mobile app called москва-путину.рф.
We have already received over 2.2 million
questions, including 1.2 million via telephone, about 43,000 via SMS messages,
and over 140,000 via the website. We can see that the number of questions is
increasing in real time.
Let me share some interesting facts and figures on the Results of the Year with Vladimir Putin programme since this format was created. There was a time when the Direct Line and the news conference were two separate events and formats. This is the third time we are having it in a hybrid format. The first time it happened was before the COVID pandemic, the second was a post-COVID event in 2023, and now we are in 2024. Once again, the programme is taking place in a hybrid format, which means that both the people of Russia and, of course, journalists get to ask questions.
Here are some interesting statistics. For example, the event with the biggest number of questions took place in 2015 when the President received 2.25 million questions. This year, we have not reached this number. However, I believe that this could be attributable to the fact that regions hold their own direct lines, with governors answering questions from their people at the regional level. Therefore, some questions get resolved on the ground.
One thing to note here is that if we add up all the time Vladimir Putin has spent answering questions during events of this kind, the total already exceeds 64 hours. People have been tuning in from the regions since 2001 when the very first programme of this kind took place. It goes without saying that there will also be people joining us via videoconference from the regions today. Throughout the years when we had the Direct Line and the Results of the Year, people have been proactively contributing to these events not only by raising various issues with the President, sharing their concerns or asking for something, but also by expressing their gratitude. This year, considering that we are holding this event on December 19, we also received New Year greetings. This is another trend I wanted to mention.
Of course, social matters are in the spotlight today, judging by the submissions we have selected. Many questions deal with the special military operation. International matters are also high on the agenda, of course. So let us get started.
Dmitry Kulko: President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
For the third year in a row, volunteers from the Russian Popular Front have been helping prepare our programme and process the messages and calls. This year, they were also joined by veterans of the special military operation. For ten days since the free telephone line opened, they, too, have been taking phone calls. However, the Russian Popular Front’s work does not end today. In fact, we can say that it is only just beginning, because the moment the broadcast ends, the Popular Front volunteers will continue to work on the appeals people made to ensure that none of them is left unattended.
Alexandra Suvorova: I would like to add that some of the appeals have already been processed during the preparations for the Results of the Year programme, and some of the issues have been addressed by Popular Front volunteers and regional and federal authorities.
There is one more aspect that is different this year. GigaChat, an AI model provided by Sber, has helped us process people’s appeals and questions. Mr President, I know that you have already seen it.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I have.
Dmitry Kulko: Yes, GigaChat has drawn conclusions. This technology can do more than transcribe audio files into text – it can also extract the message and the essence of the problem, which has significantly accelerated the processing of requests this year. You will be able to see GigaChat’s insights on the screen throughout the programme. You will see the key subjects of people’s appeals, across the country and in each region. We will be using this virtual assistant during the programme today.
Anna Suvorova: Before we start taking questions from our people and our colleagues, journalists, I would like to ask the first general question.
In recent time, everyone has been feeling a disturbing sense that the world is going crazy, or already has, because the potential for conflict is off the charts in every part of the world, and the global economy is struggling. How does Russia manage not only to stay afloat, but also to continue growing in this situation?
Vladimir Putin: You know, when all is calm and life is measured and stable, we get bored. This amounts to stagnation, so we crave action. When action begins, time starts whistling by – or bullets do, for that matter. Unfortunately, bullets are what is zipping past our heads these days. We are scared, yes – but not as “all get out” kind of scared.
Our economics are the ultimate measure of things. As is traditional, I will start with the economy. Although your question was a bit provocative, I will turn to the economy anyway. The economy is number one; it is the cornerstone. It has an impact on living standards, general stability, and the country’s defence capability. The economy is everything.
The economic situation in Russia is generally positive and stable. We are growing in spite of everything, in spite of any external threats or attempts at outside influence.
As you know, last year Russia increased its GDP by 3.6 percent, and this year the economy is expected to grow by 3.9 percent, or possibly even four percent. However, we will have to wait and see the final results, as the year-end figures will be de facto factored into these projections in the first quarter of next year, which will be 2025 in this particular case. It may well be that this indicator reaches four percent. What this means is that our economy will have grown by eight percent over the past two years. After all, the tenths and hundredths of a percent make for a negligeable difference. This is what experts have been telling me – we exchanged views this very morning. About eight percent over the past two years, compared to a growth rate between five and six percent for the United States, one percent for the Eurozone, and zero for Germany, the EU’s leading economy. It seems that next year that country will also have zero growth.
International financial and economic institutions ranked Russia as Europe’s biggest economy in terms of volume, in terms of purchasing power parity, and the world’s fourth largest economy. We are behind China, the United States and India. Last year, Russia surpassed Germany and this year, we left Japan behind. But this is not the time for us to be complacent. We will definitely keep moving forward.
There is development everywhere you look and so much positive momentum across the board. If the Eurozone has fallen asleep, there are other centres of global development that are advancing. The situation in the Eurozone and the United States has been changing too. We must maintain the momentum we have gathered and transform our economy at its core, from a qualitative perspective.
There are other general performance indicators which have been quite satisfactory, to say the least. Unemployment is the first such indicator. All countries around the world, and all economies, pay a great deal of attention to this figure. For Russia, it is at its all-time low of 2.3 percent. We have not experienced anything like this before. This is my first point.
Second, there has been growth in specific manufacturing and industrial sectors. In fact, industrial output increased by 4.4 percent, while the processing sector reported a growth rate of 8.1 percent, with some of its sectors achieving even higher growth rates.
Of course, inflation has been causing some concerns. Only yesterday, while preparing for today’s event, I talked to the Central Bank Governor, and Elvira Nabiullina told me that the inflation rate has already reached about 9.2–9.3 percent year-to-date. That said, salaries have increased by nine percent, and I am talking about an increase in real terms, minus inflation. In addition, disposable incomes have also increased. So, the overall situation is stable and, let me reiterate, solid.
There are certain challenges with inflation and with the economy heating up. Therefore, the Government and the Central Bank have been seeking to ensure a soft landing. Estimates may vary for next year, but we expect the economy to grow at a rate of 2–2.5 percent. This soft landing would enable us to keep improving our macroeconomic performance.
This is what we must aspire to. I think that we will probably raise these matters during today’s meeting. Overall, the economy can be described as stable and resilient.
Alexandra Suvorova: I have a follow-up question, given the numerous questions surrounding price growth, to which we will return. You have cited Germany and Japan as examples. I wish to focus on Germany having a zero percent growth rate, which you mentioned as a case previously known for its economic expansion.
Do you believe this is perhaps linked to politics and sovereignty? Not long ago, at the VTB Forum Russia Calling!, you reminisced about Gerhard Schroeder's birthday celebration, remarking how all the songs were in English, with none performed in German.
Vladimir Putin: There were. It's an interesting episode. Quite some time ago, it was Gerhard Schroeder's birthday, he invited me and I attended. There was a small concert, and, as it happened, all the companies performed in English. I remarked at the time, “Even the Hannover girls' choir sang in English.”
There was, however, one ensemble that performed in German: the Kuban Cossack Choir, which accompanied me. Moreover, this was entirely unexpected on my part. I inquired, “How did you come to know these songs?” They replied, “Out of respect for the Germans, our hosts, we learnt these songs en route and performed them in German, including those from the local region where we are now.”
During the intermission, numerous attendees approached me (I recount this as it truly unfolded) and expressed, “We are embarrassed, truly, that only Russian Cossacks performed in German here.”
I recounted this to a colleague who was present at the event, which has now been recalled. You see, sovereignty is a crucial concept; it must reside within, in one's heart. In the post-war era, I believe this sense – of homeland and sovereignty – has been somewhat eroded among the German people.
Who are the Europeans, after all? They are proud to be European, yet they are foremost French, German, Italian, Spanish, and then European. There is a tendency to smooth out things, to homogenise. Ultimately, this affects everything, including the economy.
I previously spoke about our economic growth – this is largely attributable to the reinforcement of sovereignty, which extends to the economic realm.
Many foreign manufacturers have exited our market. What has been the consequence? Our entrepreneurs have started producing these goods domestically, necessitating further research and the engagement of institutions, including those focused on development. All of this – what we are discussing – is the enhancement of technological sovereignty.
Sovereignty manifests itself in various forms: defence, technology, science, education, culture. This is of paramount importance, especially for our nation, because should we lose sovereignty, we risk losing statehood. That is the crux.
Economic growth is also an effect of bolstered sovereignty.
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, I suggest we move on to questions from our citizens.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, let us begin.
Dmitry Kulko: You spoke about economic growth. It is true that a look at our economic indicators, which do look good, shows that the majority of Russian enterprises are working to capacity and wages are rising, yet they cannot keep pace with price increases.
Many Russian citizens have written about this, and AI has analysed all the requests and compiled a list of regions where more questions concerned price growth. These are eastern regions, such as the Kamchatka Territory and the Sakhalin Region, and also our westernmost territory, the Kaliningrad Region. Also, the majority of questions from the Irkutsk Region concern price growth. In short, it is a topical issue.
Alexandra Suvorova: It is topical indeed. I will cite the figures which have also been provided by GigaChat, which we are using.
The most frequent questions have to do with the rise in prices of bread, fish, milk, eggs and butter. People also write about the growth of fuel prices. This file contains some of the citizens’ questions about price growth.
If we look at the official data of the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), we got it last night, we will see that the prices of fruits and vegetables have increased by 3.4 percent over the past week. For example, the price of cucumbers has grown by ten percent after rising by 43 percent in November.
Vladimir Putin: First, I would like to apologise to the audience, especially those who are following this event via various media platforms, including online. When I said that price growth or inflation was slightly above nine percent this year, at 9.2–9.3 percent, and that people’s wages and real disposable incomes have grown as well, I cited average figures. Of course, our country is very big, and some people might ask me what I was talking about, that their well-being has not improved but remained at the same level. And some might even say that their well-being has deteriorated. Yes, this can be so and it is so, in some cases. I cited average figures, because when we make plans, we need to have figures to rely on, and we can only rely on average figures.
As for the growth of prices, there are both objective and subjective reasons for that.
What is more important is that the supply in our market should correlate with people’s incomes, or rather, people’s incomes and their purchasing capacity should correlate with the volume of goods produced in the country. Wages and incomes have been growing faster than the mass of commodities and the rate of production.
I will explain. Let’s say, food production in our country is constantly growing. I will talk about this later. There will certainly be questions on agriculture. In fact, I can tell you that it adds three percent every year. We are fully self-sufficient when it comes to meat. One hundred percent.
It is a good indicator. Why does this happen? In Russia, the annual consumption of meat is about 80 kg per capita while in other countries, it is about 42 kg on average. It may seem enough and yet, meat consumption has doubled recently, you see? Doubled.
Now, milk. Milk production grows every year, but consumption grows as well, and there is not enough milk to produce butter. I know that the butter prices have grown by 33–34 percent in some regions, and possibly higher in others.
Simply, the amount of products has not grown as much as consumption has. This is the first reason. The solution here would be to develop industries. And I will talk more about it later.
The second objective reason is harvest.
The third objective reason is that some products have become more expensive on world markets.
Of course, the external restrictions, sanctions and so forth are affecting the prices to a certain extent. They do not play a key role but still, they take a toll as they make logistics more expensive, in addition to other things.
There are also subjective reasons or things we could improve on our side. For example, some experts believe that the Central Bank could have used certain instruments other than raising the key rate, more efficiently and at an earlier stage. Yes, the Central Bank started doing it around summer. But again, these experts believe that it could have and should have been done earlier. There are many instruments. I will not list them now and will not tire our audience with these considerations about the Central Bank and its regulation methods.
The Government works efficiently and does a lot when it thinks about the future – and the future should always be considered. In our country, we always thought about the future even during the harshest times of the Great Patriotic War. We know these examples. There were efforts made and, as it turned out later, correct efforts.
Our Government does think about the future: it formulates tasks, national development goals and national projects. It is wonderful but it would also be great to take timely efforts with respect to industries and consider the development of certain sectors, the production of mass products. I will not list them now – perhaps, there will be questions on specific industries later. Timely decisions should have been made.
Growing prices are not something to enjoy and they
have adverse impacts. But I hope that overall, as we preserve macroeconomic
indicators, we shall address this issues as well because macroeconomics is the basis for a healthy economy in general.
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, we are holding today’s event in a combined format, a direct line and a news conference. I now suggest that our journalist colleagues ask a question.
Alexandra Suvorova: We can sense that those present in the hall are eager to ask their questions.
Dmitry Peskov: Indeed, the audience is quite eager. Allow me …
A question from the audience.
Dmitry Peskov: You know, if we behave this way, it would be disrespectful towards everyone else.
Vladimir Putin: Nevertheless, let us refrain from acting this way, and let us begin. What is your name?
Alina Khastsayeva: My name is Alina Khastsayeva, I represent the 15th Region information website in North Ossetia.
Vladimir Putin: Alina, go ahead, please.
Alina Khastsayeva: The issue of professional service personnel has become increasingly important. Multiple schools, including the North Caucasus Military Institute of Interior Troops in North Ossetia, used to train military specialists in the North Caucasus.
Quite literally, a legendary institute: seven of its graduates became Heroes of the Soviet Union, and 14 more received the title of Heroes of Russia. To this very day, its graduates are successfully carrying out missions set by our state. Its graduates include former Interior Minister Anatoly Kulikov, and Sergei Khairutdinov, a recent graduate, became Hero of Russia while taking part in the special military operation.
Is it possible to reinstate this institute at a time when the North Caucasus and the whole of Russia need it so much? Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Alina, thank you for this question. This is a good point, and do not be angry with Alina; here is why.
First, North Ossetia has always been Russia’s outpost in this region, in the Caucasus, and it has always justified its lofty designation. We know how the republic’s residents feel about their region and about Russia, our large common Motherland. They have always defended it and have fulfilled this role worthily and admirably.
You have noted that the number of schools has been reduced. This is not linked to a decision to close them in Ossetia alone. It is related to the fact that, according to military specialists and agencies, there were too many military schools, and the Russian army did not need so many specialists and so much service personnel at the time. Due to various circumstances, we are now increasing the strength of the army, security and law enforcement agencies to 1.5 million people. I cannot say that we will achieve this tomorrow, but I promise you that we will certainly analyse this issue.
Thank you.
Dmitry Peskov: We continue working with the audience. Let us go back to the centre after all.
ITAR-TASS, please.
Mikhail Petrov: Mikhail Petrov, Editor-in-Chief, TASS.
Mr President, before I ask my question, I would like to thank you.
This year, TASS is celebrating its 120th anniversary. We are this country’s oldest news agency. Earlier this year, in August, you signed an Executive order on awarding TASS the Order for Valiant Labour. On behalf of our large team and at their instructions, I want to take a message of many thanks to you. This is a high praise for our work.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
Mikhail Petrov: As for the question, I think this issue is of concern for all of us today. Incidentally, TASS correspondents sent reports from the fronts during the Great Patriotic War. Today, too, our men are working in the special military operation zone, and they are concerned as well.
How do you assess the progress in the special military operation, which has lasted for nearly three years now? Is the victory nearer?
Vladimir Putin: I certainly hoped for questions of this kind. There are many of these within the bulk [of messages] that came in during the previous days. Moreover, I am grateful to you, too, for [asking this question], because this enables us to show what is going on and what our troops are doing at the battle contact line.
You know, the fighting men, with whom I am in regular contact, send souvenirs, chevrons, some weapons, and so on. Not long ago, men from the 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet gave me a copy of their colours.
Who can I ask to assist me? Come over to me, please, and someone from that side. I have a big favour to ask. You take a position here and you – there, and unfold this banner, please, at both ends.
Dmitry Kulko: Pacific Fleet marines.
Vladimir Putin: Yes.
I have brought it along on purpose.
First, I wanted to thank the men for this gift.
Second, let us consider than this banner of the 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet represents all the combat banners of our soldiers, who are fighting for Russia, for the Motherland, along the entire line of contact.
I must say that the situation is changing radically. You know this well and I just want to reaffirm this. The drive is on along the entire frontline every day.
As I said, the advance is not by 100, 200, or 300 metres. Our fighting men are regaining the territory by square kilometers. I want to stress – every day! Why is this happening?
First, last year, and this basically is the classical course of hostilities, the enemy attacks, sustains a heavy defeat, loses a lot of equipment, ammunition and personnel, and then the other side starts to push forward. In our case, this is happening exactly in this way. Combat operations are a difficult thing. So, it is hard – and makes no sense – to think far too ahead. But it happens precisely in this way. And we are advancing, as we said, towards achieving the priority goals that we outlined at the start of the special military operation.
As for our troops, they are acting heroically. I say this regularly and will repeat it, because there is every reason for saying so. Right now, the 155th Brigade is fighting in the Kursk Region and pushing the enemy out from our land. Of course, they are not alone. Fighting alongside them are the 810th Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, the 76th and 106th divisions of the Airborne Troops, and motorised infantry of the Sever Group. All of them are fighting heroically in the direct sense of the word. And they are involved in an engagement right at this moment. Let us wish them all success, victory and safe homecoming, meaning those fighting in the Kursk Region and along the entire frontline.
Thank you.
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, I have just returned from the Kursk Region. We have been working with the units and formations you mentioned, which are currently undertaking the noble duty of liberating our homeland. For several weeks, we have been on the front lines, filming reports. Notably, the 155th brigade has liberated several residential areas, and we have discussed this.
Our reports illustrate that once the enemy is expelled from a residential area, they begin bombarding these streets with drones and artillery, almost as if in retaliation. We visited the recently liberated Borki, Snagost, and Lyubimovka. The footage clearly shows the houses intact initially, only to be targeted by Ukrainian shells afterwards. Consequently, the residents of this border region now find themselves with nowhere to return to and are striving to build new lives somehow.
I propose we connect with Tatyana Zibrova by telephone. She is currently residing in temporary accommodation in the Kursk Region. Ms Zibrova, can you hear us?
Tatyana Zibrova: Yes, I can hear you.
Dmitry Kulko: Please direct your question to the President.
Tatyana Zibrova: Good afternoon, Mr President.
Vladimir Putin: Hello.
Tatyana Zibrova: I am a resident of the Kursk Region, Bolshesoldatsky District.
I have a question on behalf of all residents of the Kursk Region. When will our region be fully liberated? When will the Ukrainian armed forces be pushed back so far that they will not even dare to show themselves or look in our direction? When will we be able to return to our homes or have our own accommodation somewhere?
Additionally, will the small villages that were destroyed be rebuilt, and will infrastructure be restored? The residents of Bolshesoldatsky District are particularly concerned: will we be included on the list of those eligible to receive housing certificates? Currently, we are not receiving them, as the Ukrainian armed forces have not directly invaded us and we are not on the list for certificates.
Vladimir Putin: Ms Zibrova, rest assured. I cannot and do not want to provide a specific date as to when they will be driven out. Our troops are engaged in combat right now, and the battles are intense. As I have mentioned before, there was no strategic military reason for the Ukrainian armed forces to enter the Kursk Region or to hold their position there as they are, deploying their elite assault groups and units to no avail. Yet, this situation persists.
We will undoubtedly drive them out. There is no alternative. Concerning a precise date – I am afraid I cannot specify one at this moment. I have an understanding of the plans, which are regularly reported to me. However, it is not possible to declare a specific date. The troops can hear me now; if I were to specify a date, they would go to great lengths to meet it, potentially disregarding casualties. We cannot allow that. While a day or two may not make a significant difference, but we will undoubtedly expel them, the damage assessment will follow, and, most importantly, everything will be restored. There is no doubt about that.
We will rebuild the road network, restore utility
infrastructure, and reinstate social facilities such as schools and kindergartens. Community centres and housing will be rebuilt, and housing
reconstruction certificates will be issued.
We will assist those who wish to relocate to other regions. Currently, about 108 billion rubles have been allocated for this purpose, if I remember correctly. I know that the first funds have already been received. The Administration will work throughout the holidays, meeting with people and addressing their issues, including providing certificates.
I understand that what is happening is incredibly challenging for you: people are experiencing heavy losses, inconveniences, especially families with children. But rest assured, we will do everything in our power to restore everything. Everyone in need of housing assistance will be fully satisfied; everyone will receive what they are entitled to.
I genuinely hope that the new head of the region, who has been appointed to the Kursk Region, is experienced and capable of effectively working with people. That is why I chose him, he has a long history of working in the State Duma and directly with his voters, so he knows how to handle it. I expect that he will work with every person on an individual basis.
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, our military personnel who are currently liberating the Kursk Region do not have the status of a participant in the special military operation.
Vladimir Putin: Pardon?
Dmitry Kulko: They don’t have the status of a participant in the special military operation.
Vladimir Putin: Why?
Dmitry Kulko: Because they are participants in the counter-terrorism operation. This also affects the payments they receive.
We received several requests, mostly from the wives of the military personnel: “My husband serves in an assault company in the Kursk Region and is carrying out combat missions. In October and November, he received a pay allowance of 42,000 rubles, even though he is on battle positions. Many soldiers have not received combat daily payments for three or four months. It has been argued that they are in the zone of a counter-terrorism operation, not the special military operation.”
Another appeal: “In the Kursk Region, they are paid a monthly salary of 25,000 rubles, not the 210,000 rubles promised in the Ministry of Defence contracts.“
Can this situation be corrected?
Vladimir Putin: It can and should be rectified. This is a mistake on our part. That is no news to me. I understand what you are talking about.
Our servicemen who fought in other parts of the front are recognised as combatants. If they have been transferred to the Kursk Region, they should receive all the payments they are entitled to. I will look into this.
There might be a category of individuals who had not previously participated at all or had not been on the front lines and were deployed to the Kursk Region from the very beginning, so they were not classified as participants in the special military operation.
To be honest, it never occurred to me, and I apologise for that. This will be corrected. It is unfortunate that the military department did not pay attention to this either; after all, it primarily falls under their responsibility.
We will correct everything, and all servicemen who are carrying out their duty to the Motherland on the line of contact will receive all payments due to them. We will recalculate retroactively.
Dmitry Kulko: Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin: Absolutely, without a doubt.
Dmitry Kulko: I personally know a few soldiers who are eager to get an answer right now.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, and I want the fighters to hear me. Please, do not worry, and do not let your families worry about it: everything will be recalculated, and all the due payments, including the benefits for combat action, every payment to which you are entitled will be made.
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, you have already said today that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are sending their special forces for slaughter in the Kursk Region. Indeed, their losses are enormous; this much is quite obvious. To be honest, I have never seen so many abandoned enemy bodies – indeed, all the local forests are littered with them. I do not even have to mention all the destroyed NATO equipment, including Abrams, Bradley, Leopard vehicles. They say the Kursk Region, its soil, is now the world’s biggest burial place of NATO equipment, and that is actually true.
Vladimir Putin: Possibly.
Dmitry Kulko: However, there is one small point to make here.
Vladimir Putin: As far as I know, the number of armoured vehicles destroyed in the Kursk Region has now exceeded the number of vehicles destroyed on the entire line of contact last year – in any case, these are comparable figures.
Dmitry Kulko: Please, could I ask, could I put in a word for the fighters, for those who destroyed that equipment: will they receive the promised reward?
Vladimir Putin: For the damaged equipment?
Dmitry Kulko: Yes.
Vladimir Putin: Of course, they should. Are there any problems with this?
Dmitry Kulko: To be honest, they are facing some difficulties.
Vladimir Putin: That is surprising. I know that the Defence Minister is listening to our conversation now, and this will definitely be done. No one should have any doubt about this.
Dmitry Kulko: Thank you.
Dmitry Peskov: Shall we move on to questions from the audience?
Vladimir Putin: Yes.
Dmitry Peskov: Since we are talking about military issues, let’s start with the Zvezda television channel.
Konstantin Kokoveshnikov: Good afternoon.
Konstantin Kokoveshnikov, Zvezda TV channel.
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.
Konstantin Kokoveshnikov: I cannot but ask you about the statements that we have heard over the past few weeks concerning the footage of the first combat tests of the latest Oreshnik missile, which has been shown all over the world. One gets the impression that it really has no drawbacks, but the West continues to refer to Oreshnik as a modification of old Soviet weapons, claiming that this missile can be shot down by air defence even at the launch stage.
How would you comment on this? Does it have any shortcomings?
If you do not mind, I have a clarifying question: what meaning did the creators of the Oreshnik put into the name – hazel tree? There are several versions.
Vladimir Putin: First, regarding how old or new and modern this weapon is. It is a modern, a brand new weapon. All new achievements in any sphere are based on the designs and achievements made in the past, which people use to move forward. This is also true about the Oreshnik system.
Yes, it is based on previous designs, but these designs were made in the contemporary Russian period. Our scientists, designers and engineers used that basis to create something new, coordinating their activities with the Defence Ministry as the contractor. When I was ultimately informed about that system, I joined the discussions on whether to make it or not, in what quantities, when and how.
It is a new system. As I have said, it is an intermediate- and shorter-range system.
You have said that some Western experts believe that this missile can be easily shot down and destroyed, especially in the boost phase of the missile trajectory.
What would I tell those experts? There are several types of air defence systems, as you know being from the Zvezda TV channel, such as Patriot and the more modern THAAD systems. I do not know if Ukraine has them, but I do not think so. If the Americans want, they can send its THAAD systems to Ukraine. These are more modern systems similar to our S-400 systems. The Patriot systems are comparable to our S-300s, while THAAD is similar to our S-400 systems, if only slightly inferior.
Let them send these systems to Ukraine, and we will ask our people in Ukraine to tell us about the modern solutions of these systems which we could use. I am not joking when I say “our people,” because there are people in Ukraine who you can talk to, there are many of such people who are dreaming, together with us, about liberating their country from the neo-Nazi regime.
There are also other strike systems such as the ballistic missile system (BMD), which used to be a hot topic of our discussions. We once asked the Americans not to deploy that system so that we would not have to create weapons that would be able to avoid it.
We have eventually done that. We have created the Avangard glide vehicle, which does not fly by a specific trajectory but hugs the terrain, without going up into space, because it is not a ballistic missile. We have done a great deal to evade air defence systems.
Overall, this whole story is an expensive product for the American taxpayers that can do little to ensure national security. However, that system has been created and produced in large quantities.
Two missile launching areas have been established in Romania and Poland, respectively. Around 24 missile interceptors are already deployed at each site. I don’t remember but I think they are called Standard Missile-3 systems. Standard Missile-3 Block 1B missiles are deployed in Romania. They have an effective range of 300 kilometres and can hit targets 80 to 250 km above the ground.
Even more formidable weapon systems are deployed in Poland, with a range and altitude of 1,000 and 500 km. However, our medium-range Oreshnik missile system can strike targets located 1,000, 1,500, 3,000-plus and up to 5,500 km away. Such is its range.
Supposing our system is located 2,000 km away, the missile interceptors on Polish territory would be unable to hit it. Yes, they say that the missiles are quite vulnerable during the initial boost phase. First, nothing will reach those missile bases, even if they are unprotected. And, of course, we are shielding them. Nothing can hit them. There are no systems capable of reaching these bases.
Second, it takes time to travel this distance, while our missile needs a few second to start dispensing warheads, and that’s it, the ship has sailed. There is almost no chance of shooting down these missiles.
If the Western experts you mentioned think otherwise, they should suggest to those in the West and the United States who are paying them for their analytical services to conduct a certain technological experiment, a high-tech 21st-century duel.
Let them choose a target in Kiev, deploy all their air defence and missile defence forces there, and we will hit that target using an Oreshnik missile. We shall see what happens.
We are ready to conduct this experiment. Is the other side ready? In any event, we do not rule this out. What I want to say is that all of their air defence and ABM systems are operating.
It would be interesting for us. I am telling you what engineers, scientists and military specialists are telling me. They are also telling some things at the level of the US political leadership.
Let us hold this experiment, this technological duel, and see what happens. This would be interesting and I believe it would be useful for both us and the US side.
Konstantin Kokoveshnikov: Why this name?
Dmitry Peskov: Why this name?
Vladimir Putin: Honestly? I do not know.
Dmitry Peskov: Let’s take one more question from the audience. Let’s go over there. I can see. Rossiyskaya Gazeta. A question on peace perhaps?
Aisel Gereikhanova: Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Aisel Gereikhanova.
Mr President, you signed an executive order changing the nuclear doctrine recently. Do you think the West correctly took the signal and understood it properly?
Vladimir Putin: I don’t know how they took it. You should ask them about it. I know what constitutes these changes – and it is not a new doctrine but actual changes. I will name some key aspects. We are talking about some new military hazards that may grow into military threats. They include missile defence systems and some other things that we list.
Then we speak about increasing the responsibility of non-nuclear states that may participate in an aggression against the Russian Federation alongside the countries that have nuclear weapons. If, like their allies, these countries also pose a threat to our sovereignty and Russia’s existence, then we imply that we have the right to use our nuclear weapons against them.
Finally, another component related to nuclear arms management, and another, fourth important aspect is that we declared that, if similar threats are posed to Belarus, our ally and member of the Union State, the Russian Federation will consider these threats as threats to Russia. And we will do everything to ensure the security of Belarus. We do this upon agreement with the Belarusian leadership and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. I believe it is a very important component of the updated nuclear strategy of the Russian Federation.
Alexandra Suvorova: Mr Peskov, let’s take one more question from the audience. I can see that you are holding the microphone.
Dmitry Peskov: Sure.
Darya Shuchalina: Mr President, please give the floor to the Arctic.
Dmitry Peskov: We agreed not to shout out questions and respect each other.
Vladimir Putin: Right, let’s not shout and please be respectful. But we will listen to the Arctic. Let’s do what the boss says.
Darya Shuchalina: Good afternoon, Mr President, Darya Shuchalina, Republic of Komi, Respublika newspaper.
First of all, thank you very much for returning our fellow Komi man, Rostislav Goldshtein. He is now Acting Head of Komi and let’s just say he immediately got down to business because he knows the region very well. Thank you for your choice.
Vladimir Putin: He is a good manager and an empathetic person, stable and organised. I hope he will succeed.
Darya Shuchalina: Thank you for your choice.
Now, to proposals. In the Russian Arctic territories, in the Far East and in the Far North, as well as in the Republic of Komi, there are many residential areas with up to 2,000 residents. Unfortunately, these residential areas are not eligible for a very good state programme on construction of cinemas.
We know that
people in the North are dedicated to their home regions; they are not moving to bigger cities and instead serving their country in their towns and villages.
There are not many entertainment opportunities in the North. At this moment in time, when the patriotic film
industry is growing in Russia, it would be great to have this criterion amended
in the law and ensure that northern residential areas with a population of up to 2,000 residents be eligible for this programme. So that residents would be able
to go and see films in comfortable modern cinemas.
As for the poster I am holding, you worked in our region as a member of a student construction brigade in your younger years, so you know that this Soviet-era mechanism was very effective. Unfortunately, today there is no legal framework for it.
Would it be possible to amend Federal Law No 44 regarding state and municipal contracts for budget-funded construction projects so that these student construction brigades can carry out at least 10 to 15 percent of contractual work? This way, young people can gain valuable work experience and earn some money. Companies could also benefit from these human resources, and this could serve as a development driver for the regions since they would be able to build social infrastructure they need.
Vladimir Putin: Could you repeat, please: where do these 10 percent come from?
Daria Shuchalina: I was talking about municipalities and regions reserving a specific share in construction contracts for student construction brigades.
Vladimir Putin: I see. You mean allocating some of the funds from the construction sector to these mechanisms?
Daria Shuchalina: Yes.
Vladimir Putin: I will discuss this with Mr Khusnullin. I think it is quite possible. We are currently working to revive this movement, it is re-emerging. I think this has already happened – I am referring to the student construction brigades as a movement.
The funding mechanism you described could probably be an option, and I think it has already been adopted, but let me check with Marat Khusnullin. I will raise this issue with him. Agreed?
Daria Shuchalina: I also had a question about cinemas.
Vladimir Putin: Right. Was it about gyms or cinemas?
Daria Shuchalina: I was talking about cinemas.
Vladimir Putin: What a surprising question, at least for me, you know.
Regarding the Arctic zone, let me tell you, first, that we have kept subsidised mortgages at a rate of two percent for this region, as well as for Russia’s Far East. The Arctic can still benefit from two percent mortgages, and I believe this is something that matters a great deal for people there who have been eager to use this subsidy. We have also kept this two percent mortgage rate for the new territories. This is my first point.
Second, we have an entire programme for specific communities in this zone – I think that it covers 25 cities and metropolitan areas – and we will expand it to a nationwide effort covering 200 cities.
We are talking about small communities here. They may fall through the cracks of the initiatives to develop these 25 metropolitan areas and cities. Of course, we will try to come up with additional measures for these smaller communities and for the Arctic zone in general. It goes without saying that this is very important since most of them have a rather small population.
It could be that there was an idea that providing them with broadband internet and so forth would suffice. That said, I do agree with you that watching a film in a movie theatre creates a different kind of atmosphere, a special mood, if you will. I will look into this issue. Note taken.
Daria Shuchalina: Especially considering that we now have all these great Russian patriotic films…
Vladimir Putin: Indeed. But this is a separate topic. Many producers are leaving Russia, and we wish them well, nonetheless. But this has served as a development driver, including for the film industry. This is a fact.
History-themed films are very important too, considering the enthusiasm we are witnessing in our society and its unifying potential. We are witnessing a revival of our fairy tales, epic sagas and alike. I enjoy watching these films sometimes together with the small children in our family.
You are right. Note taken. We will try to find a way not to leave your request without a response.
Dmitry Peskov: Let’s take another question from the audience and continue.
Dear friends, with all due respect, by asking two questions in a row, you are depriving some of your colleagues of the opportunity to ask their questions.
Vladimir Putin: Do not mind Mr Peskov, go ahead with your question.
Dmitry Peskov: Let’s proceed this way, then.
Krasnoyarsk.
Dmitry Novikov: Good afternoon.
I am Dmitry Novikov with Yenisei TV channel, Krasnoyarsk.
Mr President, you once referred to Krasnoyarsk as the centre of Russia. The city is now preparing to celebrate its 400th anniversary.
Vladimir Putin: Sorry to interrupt, please do not take offense. I did not call it that way; it is, in fact, the geographical centre of Russia.
Dmitry Novikov: Yes, of course. The city is going to mark its 400th anniversary in 2028, and we would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us in Krasnoyarsk for the celebration.
My question is this: the headquarters of RusHydro is currently relocating to Krasnoyarsk, following your initiative. Wouldn’t it be logical to extend this approach to other companies, not only state-owned but also private businesses? For the region, this would mean additional tax revenues and new opportunities for development. Are you considering this possibility?
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Yes.
Firstly, I believe this is a very appropriate approach. Relocating certain entities, including federal bodies, to various regions of the country can stimulate development.
For example, we are working to consolidate the judicial branch in St Petersburg. This approach is common in some countries and serves to separate the judiciary from the Presidential Executive Office and the Government, making it more independent geographically. In this case, it also enhances St Petersburg’s role as a functional capital city.
Other regional centres, such as Krasnoyarsk, certainly benefit from having a stronger tax base tied to local production. Ensuring that taxes are paid at the site of economic activity provides a boost to regional development.
We are committed to advancing this initiative, though the process is complex.
Regarding RusHydro, when Viktor Maryin was being considered for the leadership role, I asked him directly if he was prepared to relocate to Krasnoyarsk. His response was, “Yes.” I followed up with, “What about your wife?” to which he replied, “She will agree.”
This process takes time, as you can understand. The necessary personnel need to be in place. Relocating people from Moscow is
challenging, not because they are lazy or unwilling to move to Siberia, but due
to other considerations like children, schools, kindergartens, universities and other family matters. It is indeed a difficult process. Personnel need to be
trained on site. However, efforts are underway, and RusHydro is in the process
of relocating.
We will also work hard so that major corporations and, I repeat, certain other government bodies move to other regions of Russia. This is a vast country – the world’s biggest, in fact. Of course, we must ensure that major manufacturing hubs, corporations and government institutions are spread out across its territory. However, there are also certain limits here, since the President and the Government must be close to one another as they must work closely together.
Nevertheless, we must pursue this path, and this is what we will try to do.
Thank you very much for the invitation.
Alexandra Suvorova: There were business leaders who went as far as to suggest moving the capital to Krasnoyarsk. This is something they have discussed.
Vladimir Putin: There was Krasnoyarsk, and Irkutsk too. In fact, remember Peter the Great? What did he want to do? He wanted a capital in the south, and was choosing between St Petersburg and Taganrog, a southern city. He wanted to move the capital to Taganrog. At the outset, he wanted to have the capital of the Empire in Taganrog.
Dmitry Peskov: Mr President, excuse me, but I spotted Andrei Rudenko, our war correspondent from Donetsk. I feel that I must give him the floor.
Vladimir Putin: Go ahead, Andrei.
Andrei Rudenko: Mr President, I have been working as a war correspondent in Donbass since 2014. Today, I am heading Donetsk State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.
Here is my question, and it is quite a serious one. There is a massive reconstruction effort underway across Donbass, as well as in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. However, the war continues in our region. Our troops are gaining ground, while the enemy keeps destroying cities and villages. Do we have the strength and the resources we need for rebuilding and restoring our historical territories after recovering them?
Vladimir Putin: We do. Make no mistake about that. We have a large-scale programme for rebuilding and developing these territories until 2030. We have already embarked on this effort, and it will carry on across several domains, which include rebuilding roads, housing, putting utilities back into operation, as well as social and cultural infrastructure.
Speaking of roads, our plan consists of bringing the entire road network in these regions in compliance with Russia’s national standards within three years. You come from this region, and you know that this effort is already underway. There is a very useful and feasible initiative to build a ring road circling the Sea of Azov, which is now part of Russia’s internal waters. It will be just as good as the Tavrida motorway in Crimea, with four lanes and all the amenities a highway of this kind must offer.
Part of this road has already been built, even if it is just the beginning. It is quite short, just 40 kilometres, and runs from Taganrog to Mariupol. However, our plan consists of extending it to create a full circle around the Sea of Azov. There is also another road linking Mariupol to Donetsk. It is almost 100 kilometres long, or 97, to be more precise, if I am not mistaken. We will restore the road network in its entirety.
As I have said, the funds have been earmarked. Some social facilities have been finished and put into operation, like a world-class perinatal centre in Donetsk and a medical centre in Mariupol. A large children’s hospital is to be built in the south of the Zaporozhye Region. Local residents have submitted that request, and the governor insisted that they need it. I believe that this project is at the design stage. We will certainly build it.
Overall, we have big plans in these spheres until 2030. We have rebuilt 21,000 facilities, 11,000 of which have been financed from the federal budget and 10,000 from the budgets of regions across the Russian Federation that are overseeing these projects.
I would like to use this occasion, and looking directly into the camera, to express gratitude to the heads and people of these regions for their selfless and tremendous assistance. It is a national mission. I mentioned the projects that have been completed, but we need to restore and rebuild another 20,000 facilities within five or six years, and we will do so.
Andrei Rudenko: Mr President, I would like to say the following about the Lugansk People’s Republic, which never had good roads under the Ukrainian government. Today, the roads are ideal throughout the Lugansk People’s Republic. Our people are extremely grateful for this.
Vladimir Putin: This is the basic thing, which we can and must do. We will do more.
As for individual regions, I would like to address people in these regions and throughout Russia, so that everyone in the country knows that these regions have good development potential and large tax potential. I believe that tax collection in the Lugansk People’s Republic has increased by 97 percent. The relevant figure for Donbass as a whole is 69 percent. The tax collection in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions has increased several-fold. The figures themselves are smaller there because their tax base is smaller, but the collection of taxes has increased manyfold, by more than 200 percent. In other words, their tax base is good, their revival is rapid, and these regions are approaching the level of self-sufficiency.
It is true that we need to support people, providing assistance and giving a helping hand at the right time. Our country is doing so and will continue doing so until these regions’ complete incorporation into Russia not only in legal terms but also in terms of social and economic development.
Alexandra Suvorova: Mr Putin, I have a follow-up question. Did you mean tax collection when you spoke about taxes in these regions?
Vladimir Putin: Yes, I meant the collection of taxes.
As I have said, I could be wrong but the collection of taxes has increased by about 79 percent in Donetsk, over 90 percent in Lugansk, and over 200 percent in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. The absolute figures are smaller in the latter two regions because the tax base is smaller there, but it is an upward trend, and it is stable.
Alexandra Suvorova: Incidentally, we are receiving a lot of different questions from the new regions, particularly concerning the calculation of pensions.
The point is that often, the length of work in Ukraine is not being taken into account. People simply don’t have the supporting documents.
Let us now turn our attention to a video message from pensioner Leonid Shipilov.
Vladimir Putin: Please.
Leonid Shipilov: My name is Leonid Shipilov, I am a pensioner from Krasny Liman. I have an employment record spanning 45 years. Currently, I live in Donetsk with my daughter, due to the ongoing hostilities in Krasny Liman.
In May 2022, my home was destroyed in a shelling, resulting in the loss of my employment record book. Consequently, I am unable to secure a fair recalculation of my pension. The only document that could verify my employment history is the OK-5 certificate.
In July of this year, I submitted this certificate to the Pension Fund in the Kalininsky District of Donetsk, yet I still have not received a response.
I appeal to you for assistance in clarifying this matter.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Shipilov, these may appear to be everyday issues, yet they have great importance to people. I fully understand this, as it is essential to validate one's employment history. Previously, it was challenging to do so, but a recent legislative change has been enacted, recognising all prior employment records, even from years or decades past. I believe the pertinent federal law was enacted in November. Therefore, there are now regulatory and legal frameworks in place to address your concern.
All such matters, even in the absence of documents, can be resolved through witness testimonies and the decisions of interdepartmental regional commissions. I urge the republic's authorities to streamline their work in a way that ensures that these issues are resolved without unnecessary red tape.
I recently spoke with Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk People's Republic. He mentioned hosting a delegation from Africa. We are delighted to welcome our friends and guests, and he himself is planning a visit to Africa, which is commendable and necessary for maintaining relations. However, I would like to remind him of Mr Shipilov, who also requires attention. I trust that the interdepartmental regional commissions will be duly organised. I reiterate, especially since a legal foundation for this is now in place: the relevant federal law has been adopted.
Alexandra Suvorova: Indeed, there are numerous queries regarding the loss of documents. This issue extends beyond pensions to include education and property titles. I would like to share a few more messages.
Vladimir Putin: As I have mentioned before, these matters are resolved through the decisions of interdepartmental commissions and based on what is termed witness testimony. We are not talking about legal proceedings, but rather obtaining reliable information from neighbours, former colleagues, and so forth.
Alexandra Suvorova: Housing is another major issue in this region.
We have numerous appeals and calls that came from Mariupol from people who expected to receive housing as compensation, but so far, that has proved problematic. I will quote a few of them.
“Mariupol needs help in building the compensatory housing,” this text message says. “The new buildings were completed last spring, but they have not been open for occupancy yet,” Alexei Tsygankov writes – this is one of the appeals.
In fact, there are many of them – these are just a few that we have selected.
Vladimir Putin: We are paying a lot of attention to Mariupol, which it certainly deserves, as it is a large city. Before the outbreak of hostilities, it was home to about 430,000 people. Local authorities are telling me there were even more people than that, closer to 470,000. More than 3,000 apartment buildings [may be needed] there. I have visited Mariupol; I know this, and my colleagues from the Government report to me regularly. About 1,700 multifamily houses have been rebuilt, but not all of them have been commissioned yet. Paperwork needs to be completed on more than 500 projects, but the buildings are already there.
What is the situation there? Residential buildings are being repaired or rebuilt. Where a building cannot be repaired, local authorities make the decision to demolish it and allocate the land for commercial development. Once developers build new housing there, buyers can purchase apartments with a mortgage at 2 percent.
Home loans with 2-percent interest continue to be available in Russia’s new regions. In fact, that has triggered quite a construction boom there. According to our estimates, at least 300,000 people have returned to Mariupol, and its population continues to grow rapidly.
We are also working to improve local roads, schools, social and cultural facilities, and healthcare – a large medical centre has recently opened there – and educational institutions. We will certainly continue this work. As for housing, again, many projects have been allocated to commercial developers. However, the local residents are entitled to new housing as near as possible to the place where they used to live. Better still, if their building has been repaired, they should be given apartments there. If a development company is building a new multifamily house in its place, they need to ensure that former residents receive new housing in the area, not on the outskirts or even outside the city boundary. There are 5,000 ownerless apartments in the city. Local authorities need to stop holding them, but to distribute them among people – legally, of course. It is important to bear in mind that people are still returning, so we need to give some thought to the procedure. But these issues must be addressed.
One thing I can say for sure: everyone who has the right to compensation will receive a compensation. If not, please contact the relevant authorities at the local or federal levels. I believe there are decision-making centres at both levels; they have been created. If my memory serves me correctly, the relevant agencies are located on Marata Street. Marat Khusnullin has reported this to me.
Alexandra Suvorova: It is easy to remember.
Vladimir Putin: It is easy to remember. If I am mot mistaken, I think they are there.
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, speaking of the southern regions, I would like to highlight the environmental impact caused by the sinking of two tankers during a storm in the Kerch Strait.
The petroleum products were washed ashore, onto a beach near Anapa. Currently, the pollution is spreading in the direction of Gelendzhik.
The situation is worsening. Currently, the Emergencies Ministry staff, volunteers, and local residents are involved in the cleanup effort. They are making videos, posting footage on social media, and have sent a few to our programme. Let us take a look.
Vladimir Putin: Please.
(A video clip rolls.)
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, these harrowing images come from a beach resort. I am aware of the fact that you ordered to clean things up as soon as possible. Is there any way to speed up this process and minimise the impact?
Vladimir Putin: First, this is, of course, an environmental disaster. This is absolutely clear. Law enforcement agencies are in the process of assessing the ship captains’ actions. I was informed that, in their opinion, the captains violated certain rules and failed to seek shelter in time. Other ships found safe spots before the storm and are doing just fine, but these did not and dropped anchors in the wrong places. Let the relevant services within the Ministry of Transport and law enforcement agencies deal with it. That is my first point.
I am not sure what is happening right now, but the 4- to 5-point storm raged on yesterday, posing a challenge to relief efforts. I think, by Saturday, the sea will calm down, and cleanup operations can proceed more effectively.
Second, the reason I call this a major disaster is because almost 40 percent of the fuel spilled, which is an established fact. Some tankers have submerged, some have sunk, and others remain partially submerged near the shore. We need to address this.
Various services are at work, including the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Transport, and the Emergencies Ministry. This work must be coordinated. I asked the Prime Minister to set up a working group headed by Deputy Prime Minister in charge of transport Vitaly Savelyev. All services are at work, and I receive regular updates on the developments.
We need to study the tankers’ condition. We also need to think about the steps we need to take in the near future. This issue must be addressed in stages.
Stage one: Right now, we must contain the spill with containment booms to prevent the spill from spreading further.
Stage two: The fuel that has washed ashore must be removed. Governor (of the Krasnodar Territory) Veniamin Kondratiev reported to me yesterday or the day before yesterday saying that he had about 4,000 people working in the area. According to him, no additional measures are needed at the moment. However, we will, of course, deploy more Emergencies Ministry teams, if needed.
This is the task at hand. We are dealing with fuel oil, which displays specific properties at certain temperatures. It is a solid material that washes ashore and must be removed. However, a portion of this fuel oil has already settled on the seabed, and by May, when the water temperature rises, it could resurface and wash ashore again. We must get ready for that now. One way or the other, we need to remove the semi-submerged tankers from the water. These tankers need to be secured now to prevent further leakage. We will need to use containment tools, known as “towels,” and later draft a project which is a major undertaking, and to pull the tankers with fuel on the shore.
This is a major effort. The Government is working
on it, and I very much hope that no time will be wasted in addressing it.
Mr President, if you don’t mind, I see American journalists over there.
Vladimir Putin: Go ahead.
Dmitry Peskov: I can see NBC News. Please.
Keir Simmons: Mr President, Keir Simmons, NBC News.
Two questions in English, if you don’t mind. Sorry, Mr Peskov.
The first one is about President-elect Trump.
Mr President, you have failed to reach the objectives of your special military operation. Large numbers of Russians have died, including a general assassinated here in Moscow this week. And the leader of Syria, who you supported, has been overthrown.
Mr President, when you face President-elect Trump, you will be the weaker leader. How do you propose to compromise? What are you going to offer?
And my second question, Mr President, is this: the mother of an American journalist who is missing in Syria, Austin Tice, has written to you and asked for your help to try to find him because, she says, you have such connections with the Syrian Government and former President Assad.
Are you prepared to ask President Assad for information about what happened in Syria to try to find the missing, including this American journalist?
Vladimir Putin: Could you repeat the part of your question about the journalist? Where did the journalist disappear? When and what happened to him there?
Keir Simmons: I have a letter here sent to you this week by the mother of an American journalist who is missing in Syria. He has been missing for 12 years. He is called Austin Tice. In this letter, she is asking for your help to try to find him because she says you have such close connections to the former Syrian Government, to President Assad.
Will you ask President Assad for information about the missing in Syria and about Austin Tice, this woman’s son? She says she is prepared to come to Moscow if it will help to find out anything she can about her son.
Vladimir Putin: I see. Please sit down.
Frankly, I have not met with President Bashar al-Assad after his arrival in Moscow. But I plan to do it and will certainly talk to him.
We are adults and understand that the person disappeared in Syria 12 years ago. Twelve years. We realise what was happening in Syria 12 years ago. The country was caught in active military action, on both sides. Does President al-Assad know what happened to this American citizen, the journalist who, as far as I understand, was working in the zone of hostilities? Nevertheless, I promise that I will definitely ask him this question just like we can forward this question to the people who are controlling the situation on the ground in Syria today.
You asked what we can offer or what I can offer to newly elected President Trump when we meet.
First of all, I don’t know when we will meet because he has not said anything about it. I have not talked to him for more than four years. Of course, I’m ready to talk any time; I will be ready to meet with him if he wishes. You said that this conversation will take place with me in some kind of weakened state.
Esteemed Mr Simmons. Why did I say “esteemed”? Because, despite all the persecution of Russian media, we allow you to continue working in Russia and you can do so freely. It is good enough. You and the people who pay your salary in the United States really want to see Russia in a weakened state.
My opinion differs. I believe that Russia has become significantly stronger in the past two or three years. Why? Because we are becoming a truly sovereign country, and we barely depend on anybody. We are capable of firmly standing on our feet when it comes to the economy. I have already talked about economic growth rates.
We are strengthening our defence capability.
The combat readiness of the Russian
Armed Forces is the highest in the world today. I assure you it is the highest.
The same is true of our defence industry. We are increasing the production of everything our army and navy need now and will need in the future. We are doing so confidently and quickly, unlike our opponents.
I have already spoken about the successes of our armed forces, which are due in large measure to production growth in the defence industry of the Russian Federation. As I have said, we are doing this confidently and quite rationally.
It has been said that our forces are advancing along the front line. One explanation for this is the existence of the equipment I have mentioned. Yes, in fact all NATO countries are fighting against us.
We spoke about our inflation. And what is the situation over there? Take a 155 mm shell, which cost 2,000 euros two years ago and now costs four times more, 8,000 euros. If this trend persists, two percent of GDP spending on defence in NATO countries, which President-elect Donald Trump always insisted on, will not suffice. Even three percent will not be enough. The training and combat standards and the morale of the Russian armed forces are higher than those of any other army in the world.
That is why I believe that Russia has largely achieved the state we wanted to achieve. It has grown stronger and become a truly sovereign state, and we will make decisions without looking at other people’s opinions, only with our national interests in mind.
You have mentioned Syria. You and, as I said, those who pay your salary would like to present the current developments in Syria as Russia’s defeat. I assure you that this is not the case, and here is why. We came to Syria ten years ago to prevent the creation of a terrorist enclave there, like the one that we saw in some other countries, for example, Afghanistan. We have achieved that goal, by and large.
Even the groups that were fighting against the Assad regime and the government forces back then have undergone internal changes. It is not surprising that many European countries and the United States are trying to develop relations with them now. Would they be doing this if they were terrorist organisations? This means that they have changed, doesn’t it? So, our goal has been achieved, to a certain degree.
Next, we did not deploy any ground forces in Syria; they simply were not present there. Our presence consisted solely of two bases: an air base and a naval base. The ground operations were conducted by the Syrian armed forces and, as is widely known, there is no secret here, certain pro-Iranian combat units. At one point, we even withdrew our special operations forces from the area. We were not engaged in combat there.
So, what transpired? When armed opposition groups advanced towards Aleppo, the city was defended by approximately 30,000 personnel. However, when 350 militants entered the city, the government forces, along with the pro-Iranian units, withdrew without resistance, demolishing their positions as they left. This pattern was observed across nearly the entire Syrian territory, with only minor exceptions where skirmishes occurred. In the past, our Iranian friends requested assistance to move their units into Syria; now they have asked us to help withdraw them. We facilitated the relocation of 4,000 Iranian fighters to Tehran from the Khmeimim air base. Some pro-Iranian units withdrew to Lebanon, others to Iraq, without engaging in combat.
The current situation in the Syrian Arab Republic remains challenging. We sincerely hope for peace and stability to be restored. We maintain dialogue with all groups controlling the situation there and with all regional countries. An overwhelming majority of them have expressed interest in retaining our military bases in Syria.
I do not know, we must reflect on how our relations will evolve with the political forces currently in control and those that will govern this country in the future – our interests must align. Should we remain, we must act in the interests of the host nation.
What will those interests entail? What can we do for them? These questions demand careful consideration on both sides. We are already capable of offering assistance, including utilising our bases – we have extended this proposal to our partners within Syria and neighbouring nations. For instance, we suggested employing the Khmeimim air base for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria, and this was met with understanding and a willingness to collaborate. The same applies to the Tartus naval base.
Therefore, for those who wish to depict Russia as weakened… since you are an American, I would like to remind you of a well-known writer who once remarked: “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
Should there be an opportunity for a meeting with the newly elected President, Donald Trump, I am confident there will be plenty to discuss.
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, I would like to remind you of another question that my colleague asked about the murder of General Kirillov.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, about the murder of General Kirillov.
You have mentioned this was an “attempted assassination.” I thank you for this, because you have indirectly acknowledged that it was a terrorist attack. Why? Because the modus operandi used by the perpetrator for this murder endangered the lives of many.
The regime in Kiev has repeatedly committed similar crimes, acts of terror, and terrorist attacks against many citizens of the Russian Federation, let alone what they are doing in Kursk now, firing at civilians – I mean in the Kursk Region – and in other regions of Russia. They have killed journalists, your colleagues – committed terrorist attacks against journalists.
However, we have never heard – I am not referring to you personally – anyone from the Western journalistic corps openly condemn such attacks. But I am grateful to you for remembering this at least.
Dmitry Peskov: Let’s engage with the audience some more.
Alexandra Suvorova: Go ahead.
Dmitry Peskov: They are showing great interest.
I see a ‘Tatars. BRICS’ poster. We were in Kazan just recently.
Vladimir Putin: I am sorry, I would like to address your American colleague. Can you hear me? If you have any more questions, please ask.
Dmitry Peskov: Let’s go back to Kazan now.
Vladimir Putin: All right.
Do you need some time to think? You can gather your thoughts while we talk to the Tatars. After that, we will talk with the Americans.
Dmitry Peskov: Go ahead, please.
Keir Simmons: My question is, are you prepared to compromise in anyway over Ukraine? You say that Kiev should compromise, the Ukrainians should compromise, but what are you prepared to offer in the potential negotiations potentially led by President-elect Trump?
Vladimir Putin: I apologise for missing this part of your question, which is very important.
Politics is the art of compromise. We have always said that we are ready for both negotiations and compromises. The problem is that the opposing side, both literally and figuratively, rejected negotiations. We, on the contrary, have always been willing to talk, and talking always leads to finding a compromise.
We did reach an agreement in Istanbul in late 2022. I repeat for the umpteenth time: the Ukrainian side initialled that document, which meant that generally, it agreed with what it contained. Suddenly they wanted out. It is clear why. Because your ally, Mr Johnson, the man with an iconic hairstyle, told them they were to fight to the last Ukrainian. This is what they are doing. They will soon run out of Ukrainians who want to fight. I believe there will soon be no one left who wants to fight.
So, we are ready, but we need that
country to be ready for both negotiations and compromise.
Dmitry Peskov: Thank you.
Kazan, please.
Vladimir Putin: We have talked with the Americans, now we will talk with the Tatars.
Artur Khalilullov: Good afternoon, Mr President.
Thank you for the opportunity to ask my question. I am Artur Khalilullov from Tatar Inform.
BRICS has obviously been taken to a fundamentally new level after the Kazan summit. In fact, I cannot even remember that dozens of world leaders, including Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi, gathered in Moscow.
Have your expectations regarding opposition to the Western world order materialised? That was my first question.
I also have a follow-up question. Last year, you told me personally in response to my question that Tatarstan is an example of peaceful coexistence of different cultures, nations and religions. The same can be said about BRICS, because BRICS is a group of widely different countries. This brings me to my question. Do you think that Kazan could become the seat of the BRICS headquarters? Of BRICS as a whole or its Russian part?
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Artur, you have said that so many world leaders have never met in Moscow. This is correct, they did not, but they have met in Kazan. So, we are grateful to Kazan for giving us this opportunity. This is the first point.
Second, we are not planning to establish a headquarters now. There are several instruments that have been created and are working in the interests of our group. But we will certainly make use of the possibilities offered by the capital of Tatarstan, which have been created there over the past decades.
Kazan has made an astonishing leap in its development. I believe, and it is not an exaggeration, that Kazan is one of the best cities in Europe. I am pleased to say so. We are proud of Moscow, which is one of the largest and best mega-cities in the world, but Kazan is developing very rapidly and actively.
I remember visiting it with Mintimer Shaimiyev. I have told before that we entered a mud hut on the outskirts of Kazan, a real mud hut where people lived. It was a deep hole with a roof above it. However, as is typical of the Tatar culture, it was very clean, and there was tasty chak-chak fried dough dessert on the table.
You will not see anything like this in Kazan now. The city is developing. It is beautiful, and it even has a metro system. I talked with Mr Shaimiyev back then that this needed to be done, and it has been done. Your new leader, Rustam Minnikhanov, has taken over the baton and is working very effectively.
Overall, people in Kazan and Tatarstan as a whole are talented. They come from different ethnic groups, but they live in peace and accord with each other, respect each other and their traditions, and I know that they attend each other’s religious feasts. You are doing this very well. I congratulate you on this.
There is another aspect that I would like to highlight.
You said that BRICS has evolved into a tool for countering the West. This is not true; you are mistaken. BRICS is not a tool for countering the West. Our work is not aimed against anyone. We focus on our own interests and the interests of the group’s member countries. Giving BRICS any kind of a confrontational agenda is not what we are after.
This group has grown within a very short period of time and expanded its ranks. As you know, and we have mentioned this many times, so I will not repeat it to save time, many countries have expressed interest in developing the BRICS format.
Why? Because ensuring reciprocity, mutual respect and respecting each other’s interests have been our core guiding principles in this effort. We adopt all decisions by consensus, which is a very important point. There are no small or big countries within BRICS, no countries that are more or less developed: this is a group based on common interests. And there is one common interest: development. We try to identify available tools and create new ones for generating more economic growth and transforming the structure of the economy in order for it to be in step with the global development agenda, ensuring that BRICS countries and the group as a whole are at the forefront of this progressive movement. This is the way we will be operating.
Thank you very much.
Dmitry Peskov: I suggest that we take another question from the audience.
I see an unconventional media outlet. It is quite new and rather popular too. Readovka, please go ahead with your question.
Vladimir Putin: What was the title again?
Maxim Dolgov: Good afternoon, Mr President.
Maxim Dolgov, Readovka.
Here is my question. Many countries have been facing the issue of ageing and population decline these days, and Russia is no exception. It is interesting that there have been all these measures to increase the birthrate, and you have recently signed a law establishing the Council for Demographic and Family Policy. But if these laws fall short of their promise, what will we do?
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: We will improve them.
Take your seat, please.
This is an extremely important matter. In fact, this is one of the key issues for Russia, and not only for our country. You were right to say that demography has become a matter of grave concern not only for Russia, but also for many countries around the world.
The Soviet Union was able to achieve replacement-level fertility of two points. What does the fertility rate mean? It stands for the number of children per woman. There was a time in the history of the Soviet Union when the fertility rate was equal to two. And there was a time in Russia’s recent past when we reached a rate of 1.7. Unfortunately, it fell to 1.41. Is this a lot or a little? Of course, it is very little. However, there are other countries facing a similar situation and located in a similar region. This includes Finland, where the birthrate is even lower, and I think Norway is at the same level. The fertility rate in Spain is lower, and this is also true for many other countries. In some developed countries, for example, in Japan, it is even lower than that, and South Korea has a fertility rate as low as 0.7. This is terrible. We have a slightly better situation in Russia, but just to reach the replacement fertility rate we must have 2.1 children per woman, and we need at least 2.3 for our population to grow.
I have said many times before what happened during the previous decades. There was a sharp decline in birth rate during the Great Patriotic War, especially in 1943–1944, and then, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the birth rate sank again similarly.
What happened next? I will take a couple of minutes to explain. When a low-numbered generation reaches the reproductive age, it reproduces in similarly low numbers. These two birth rate decline trends – the trend of the Great Patriotic War and the trend after the collapse of the Soviet Union – later converged, continuing in similar fluctuations to this day. The number of women of a reproductive age has gone down 30 percent. We need more girls, young women.
What are we doing to improve the situation? An entire programme was developed. We address this matter continuously, improving the available instruments. Once again, it works differently in different periods of time.
First, there is a benefit for families with children that is quite effective. We pay this benefit from the moment a woman becomes pregnant and until the child reaches 18. This benefit is now available to over 10 million children and around 320,000 pregnant women.
Second, we invented a unique tool that no other country offers – maternity capital that we continue to replenish.
Next, family mortgage rates with 6 percent interest are still available. I suppose we will talk more about mortgages and construction later. In essence, family mortgage is still available.
We pay 450,000 rubles to families who have a third child, specifically to pay their mortgages.
We are developing the system that encompasses healthcare, childhood and maternity, and we will continue to do everything and improve these instruments further. These matters are very important.
I want to take this opportunity and address the heads of all Russian regions: this is what your working day should begin with and end with because it is a challenge for many countries, Russia included. The population is what makes a country. One territory is good, but it must be populated by the citizens of this country.
Perhaps we are doing a lot, but it is perfectly clear that these measures are not enough. We will be able to say that yes, we are doing something useful when we can overturn this trend and achieve the indicators I mentioned earlier.
Alexandra Suvorova: In fact, we have received many messages on this subject, including from large families. We have a whole selection of those.
The problem is as follows. You have mentioned the uniform allowance, but when the average per capita income in a family exceeds the regional subsistence minimum, the family does not qualify for the benefit. However, in many cases, this is due to a long streak of inaccuracies, or that income is literally just a few kopecks or rubles above the required level, but they fail to qualify anyway.
Now we are about to be joined by Anna Shenkao from Surgut, the mother of five.
Ms Shenkao, good afternoon. Please ask the President your question.
Anna Shenkao: Good afternoon, Mr President.
My name is Anna Shenkao. I was born and live in Surgut, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, and I am a mother of five. One of my children also has a disability.
I have been applying for the relevant benefits every month since July 2023, but all my applications have been turned down because our per capita income exceeds the regional minimum subsistence level. In some cases, it was only 78 rubles above that level, but I was rejected anyway.
This is what I would like to ask. Is a child’s disability pension considered to be family income? Why are they counting the previous year’s income? And there is something else: my husband is officially employed, which implies full compliance with the tax laws. However, when they evaluate the per capita income, they use his gross pay, including tax, which the employer in fact deducts. We do not receive this money, so I would like to ask why it should be considered part of our income.
And, if you do not mind, I have one more question – about holidays.
How can a large family – or not necessarily a large family – afford a holiday in this situation? We really want to go somewhere, but when we analysed airfares a few days ago, most of them hovered around 140,000 −150,000 rubles one way.
I would really like to hear an answer to my question.
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Ms Shenkao, you said that you have five children, didn’t you?
Anna Shenkao: Yes.
Vladimir Putin: I congratulate you on this. This alone makes you a happy person.
Anna Shenkao: Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: I am sure of that. I want our viewers and listeners to join me in celebrating your family, and follow your example, first of all.
Secondly, this is the usual formula for evaluating someone’s income. They take into account everything, and they do use the previous year’s figures. I cited evaluating economic growth as an example – in any case, it is recalculated only the following year. Therefore, they consider the previous year’s income.
Certainly, we can deliberate on this matter. I will ask Ms Tatyana Golikova and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to examine the issue. However, that is not the most important point – what truly matters is that the issue you mentioned might arise for other reasons, namely a small excess of income over the threshold at which payments under the flat-rate allowance are still provided. That is purely a procedural approach.
We have given a lot of thought to how we can avert the situation that you and your family are experiencing. In principle, the decision has already been reached – we should recalculate personal income tax and subsequently refund at least seven percent of the tax your family has paid.
We will see how this unfolds. Hopefully, it will offset your loss from not receiving the respective money under the allowance you mentioned. We will see how it all pans out.
The Government’s assumption was that this measure would reimburse you the amount that was underpaid as part of the allowance you receive. That decision was made recently. I reiterate my hope that this issue will be resolved. That is the first point.
Secondly, with regard to holidays and travel, you are right – such a problem does exist. I have already spoken to the relevant executives on this matter.
By the way, our air transportation industry is operating steadily and quite successfully. Last year, they carried, I believe, 105 million passengers, and this year they are set to transport 111 million passengers. What is going on there?
There is a provision – it is stated in the code – that multi-child families, families with children, are entitled to a 50 percent discount, I think, on fares. This applies to the standard fare.
What do the airline companies do? They introduce their own discounts – minor, insignificant, but these are not standard fares. Then they claim, “We have a discounted fare, we already have a non-standard fare, so we will not give a 50 percent discount.”
This practice must be curtailed. I fully agree with you and urge the Government, together with the airlines, to address this problem no later than January 14 next year. We will solve this problem.
As for excess income, the refund of seven percent of the personal income tax, we will also observe how it works.
Anna Shenkao: Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.
Dmitry Peskov: Mr President, I saw there were more questions about demographics.
Vladimir Putin: Go ahead.
Dmitry Peskov: It says here, “Chechnya, important.” It is also about demographics.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, please. Where are you?
Ruzana Veselayeva: Vainakh State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, Chechen Republic.
Mr President, you often emphasise the importance of demographic growth and have used the Chechen Republic as an example in this regard.
Vladimir Putin: Yes.
Ruzana Veselayeva: Perhaps, it is worth launching a dedicated programme?
Vladimir Putin: I have mentioned the Chechen Republic and Tuva. In Chechnya and Tuva, demographics are good.
Ruzana Veselayeva: But would it not make sense to introduce a separate programme for regions that are most efficient in this area?
If I may, a second question. Last year, you approved the high-speed railway strategy, which includes three stages. One of them – the third stage – covers the Moscow-Adler route.
According to most experts, including Grozny and Makhachkala in the Moscow-Adler Railway would make the project more cost-effective and efficient. What is your opinion on this? Do you see it as a practicable solution?
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you for the question.
You mentioned that demographics are in good shape in Chechnya.
Please take a seat.
Yes, demographics are indeed in good shape in Chechnya and Tuva. These are two federal constituent entities where the demographic situation is favourable.
In this regard, are additional measures needed? I would say we should simply say thank you, provide support, and encourage others to follow your example.
For regions where the birth rate is below the fertility rate of 1.41, there is a clear need for a dedicated programme to support them.
This is precisely what we are planning to do for these regions. There are about 35 of such regions, if memory serves. A separate support programme is being developed for these areas, with a funding of 75 billion rubles over the next few years. That is what we are going to do.
Now, regarding the Moscow-Adler-Grozny-Makhachkala railway. We have several questions in this regard. First, we need to ensure traffic along the Black Sea coast, provide proper access to Sochi, and eliminate traffic jams that tend to snarl traffic near Adler, especially during the tourist season. The congestions often leaves people stuck for hours.
This situation arose because, during preparations for the Olympic Games, a bypass road for Sochi was built, which created a bottleneck. It is, in fact, an old road that was slightly renovated, but two traffic flows – the old traffic flow and the Greater Sochi bypass flow – are merging there, creating a single congested access to Adler. This bottleneck needs to be broken up to make sure vehicles are not stuck in traffic. By the way, Chechen construction companies will be involved in this work near Adler, though I am not sure about the details.
With regard to Grozny-Makhachkala, this is also an important consideration which should be addressed in the future. It is a good idea.
Not to hurt anyone’s feelings, let’s take “Chechnya. Magistry” (masters). Did you want to say the same thing or not?
Khamzat Batukayev: Khamzat Batukayev, Grozny Chechen State Television and Radio Company.
My colleague has already asked the question we had for you and you answered it. Thank you very much. However, when you were talking to my colleague from Tatarstan, you shared the way you view Kazan.
By the way, I was also at the BRICS Summit. And this reminded me that you had visited the Chechen Republic not that long ago. So I am asking you: Is Grozny a beautiful city?
Vladimir Putin: It is great. You know, it is a miracle, a present-day miracle for Russia.
You know, I flew over Grozny during the harsh years when we were still fighting terrorists there, primarily international terrorist groups. The city was one big ruin, and you could hear machine gun rounds targeting the helicopter from these ruins.
At the time, there were quite a few people in Chechnya who talked about moving the capital to Gudermes. However, both the first President of the Chechen Republic, and the incumbent President spoke out against these proposals arguing that Grozny had established itself as Chechnya’s historical capital, a capital of the Chechen people, and that it would be rebuilt at whatever cost.
What has been achieved in Grozny over the past two years is a true miracle. Of course, credit for these achievements primarily goes to the current President of the Republic. Even more importantly, this is something the people of Chechnya achieved together. Their hard-working nature and their talent played an instrumental role. I am not even talking about the mosque. What a beauty! And look at all these new buildings and architectural solutions. We cannot fail to feel pride for what has been achieved in Chechnya and in Grozny over the recent years.
I would like to commend and congratulate you on these achievements.
Khamzat Batukayev: Mr President, I remember what you said during your visit to the mosque when you were talking to Chechnya’s mufti. You made an important point when you said that in terms of their spiritual and moral principles, Islam, the Orthodox faith, and all the traditional religions in general, share a common denominator and foundation.
I would like to ask you about the Russian Special Forces University. You have visited this institution. It has recently been given your name, to honour you as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. What do you think about this training centre? Should it be expanded? Could you share your vision or your assessment? What do you think about it?
Vladimir Putin: It is great. We really need it. The National Guard has been using it all the time. After all, it trains not only people from Chechnya, but from across the country.
When I talk to some fighters who are currently fighting in the combat zone and who do not come from Chechnya, I ask them: “Where are you from?” And they tell me that they got their training at this centre. This centre plays an important role in enhancing our national defence capabilities.
Thank you.
Dmitry Kulko: Let us take a couple of more questions from the audience. I see our Chinese friends from Xinhua, the sector right in front of me.
Huang He: Mr President, good afternoon. My name is Huang He, and I represent the Xinhua News Agency of China. I am delighted to pose a question to you today. I have just two questions.
The first question is this: How do you evaluate the current state of China-Russia relations? Please share with us the main outcomes of cooperation between our two countries.
The second question: Next year, China and Russia will jointly celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Organisation. In your view, what role do the interaction and coordination between China and Russia play in upholding global strategic stability and international justice?
Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin: We often discuss cooperation between Russia and the People’s Republic of China. Next year, we will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between our countries. A great deal has transpired in our relations over these years, but in the past decade, the level and quality of our relations have reached unprecedented heights in our history.
I will address the economic aspect now, but first and foremost, it is about mutual trust. Everything we do in relation to each other and how we do it is based on absolute trust to policies of both sides. We engage in nothing that contradicts our interests, and we do much that benefits both the Chinese people and the peoples of the Russian Federation.
I have already mentioned the economy: according to various estimates, it stands at US$220–230 billion, and according to Chinese statistics, up to $240 billion in dollar terms. The trade turnover is impressive. Over the past year, despite such a solid foundation, growth continues. It is moderate, with an expected three percent increase, but growth is present. That is the first part.
The second part concerns investment. We have nearly 600 joint investment projects amounting to US$200 billion. What does this indicate? It suggests that the future is secure.
Lastly, a very significant component, in my opinion, is the humanitarian aspect. We regularly hold cross years: the Year of Culture, the Year of Youth Exchanges, and so forth. This is crucial for the people of both countries. It forms the basis for developing economic ties and political cooperation.
The most critical aspect is regional cooperation. Regional leaders engage with one another: Maotai and vodka, of course, play a part there. But everything is in moderation, as far as I understand. This personal vibe is important, and there are exchanges between students, between higher education institutions, and so on.
Now, regarding the Great Patriotic War.
The Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China are the countries that suffered the most and achieved victory in the Second World War at the cost of the heaviest losses. We used to say 20, then 25, and now some historians estimate 27 million dead. The toll is even higher in China. It is not widely discussed, but in China, it exceeds 30 million.
What the Japanese militarists did on Chinese soil was horrific, a dreadful ordeal. The Chinese people endured that trial. We stood together then, and we stand together now, which is the most important factor, I keep emphasising it, for stability in global affairs.
An instrument of stability, originally created for this purpose, is the United Nations Organisation: Russia and China, as founders of the Organisation and permanent members of the Security Council.
We very often, almost always, coordinate our actions on the international stage, and this is a very significant element of international life. We will continue doing so. I extend my very best wishes to the leader of the People’s Republic of China, a man I consider my friend, President Xi Jinping.
Dmitry Peskov: Friends, I kindly remind you to keep your questions brief and to ask one at a time. I see Kuban, please pass the microphone.
Marina Smirnova: Good afternoon. I am Marina Smirnova, representing the Ogni Kubani newspaper, Kavkazsky District, Krasnodar Territory.
My question concerns the current discussions about migration issues and potential solutions. The Krasnodar Territory is large, welcoming, diverse, and strong, but the challenges related to migrants persist. We have tight restrictions, such as patents that give the right to work only in the construction industry. What is your perspective on such restrictions? There is a labour shortage in various regions. How does Russia plan to address this issue? What is your vision for resolving these challenges?
Vladimir Putin: This is a highly sensitive and pressing issue, not just for us, but even more so for Europe. On the one hand, we face a significant shortage of workers. As I have mentioned before, our unemployment rate is just 2.3 percent, which is effectively negligible. Business leaders and government officials consistently report substantial shortfalls, particularly in the construction and industrial sectors, with the demand reaching into the hundreds of thousands. This is an undeniable fact.
What is the solution? First, to reduce reliance on labour migrants, we need to focus on increasing labour productivity. This involves introducing and utilising technologies that minimise the demand for large numbers of unskilled workers. By shifting the emphasis toward high-tech sectors, we can achieve desired outcomes without the need to bring in significant numbers of migrants for unskilled labour. That is the first step.
Second, if the influx of labour migrants is unavoidable, we must collaborate with partner countries, particularly those in Central Asia, to prepare individuals effectively. This includes expanding a network of Russian-language schools, promoting the study of Russian, and familiarising prospective workers with our traditions, culture, and legal requirements. And of course, we need to tighten requirements to migrants that are already in Russia, ensuring that they respect the communities in which they live and work. This responsibility falls on law enforcement agencies. In essence, the solution requires a balanced approach, integrating both economic and law enforcement measures.
There were extensive discussions about whether we should establish a separate agency (which we once had) or keep it within the Interior Ministry.
I believe that today, we need to strengthen this area of work within the Interior Ministry. We should establish a dedicated and robust division or centre either within the Interior Ministry or under its auspices, which should comprise representatives from economic departments to ensure that all decisions are made holistically, in close coordination with other ministries, departments, and regional authorities.
A significant volume of regulation exists and it should primarily be handled at the regional level. However, all of this should be coordinated from a single centre. As the system matures and gains the necessary competencies, there may be a need for a separate agency in the future. This agency should incorporate both a law enforcement and an economic component.
Certain steps in this direction have already been taken, with the State Duma passing a law that grants the right not to accept migrant children who do not speak Russian into schools. This makes sense since it is impossible to teach a child if they do not understand the language. There needs to be separate instruction in Russian for these children, but who will bear the cost of this additional language training?
We need to ensure that, on the one hand, the people who arrive have equal rights, that they have guaranteed access to healthcare and social security, but on the other hand, this should not be an additional burden on the local population in the host region. It is essential that everyone is comfortable.
There are many issues involved. And of course, the Government should pay great attention to this. How could this be developed? I just said that initially, this could be done within the Interior Ministry, and later, perhaps, if the situation requires, we will create a separate agency, which will employ both representatives of law enforcement bodies and economic agencies.
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, we have been specially monitoring migration issues. This is indeed a very sensitive and complex problem.
A significant part of these questions has come from people who come to our country and not always in search of employment. Many of them are Russian-speakers who wish to return to their homeland, obtain a Russian passport, and become full-fledged citizens of the Russian Federation. We have received such requests from a range of countries, including the CIS and Ukraine – as you said today, there are many Russians there.
We have also received such questions from Germany. For example, we were contacted by Leo Seibel, our compatriot, who left for Germany in 1990 and returned in 2006. He currently resides in Tarusa [Kaluga Region], and says that, although he has a residence permit, he has not been able to obtain Russian citizenship for years, with the authorities always giving him the same answer: you are not entitled, there is no such law. A verbatim quote: only Putin can give you citizenship.
Here is a small detail though. After he told the officials that he had written a letter to Putin, their tone changed, and they gave him a list of documents he needed to bring. The process seemed to have got off the ground, but he would like to bring it to its logical end.
Vladimir Putin: Look, Russian citizenship is indeed granted by Presidential executive orders. But this is a purely formal act that must be prepared locally, by relevant agencies, commissions and committees.
The issue you just raised is part of what we call working with compatriots, meaning individuals who feel that they belong to Russia. They speak Russian, they consider themselves part of our culture, part of the Russian world, and as a rule, they are also highly qualified specialists. We are truly interested in attracting such professionals to Russia; we would like them to work and live here. We actually have a state programme for this. Well, apparently, it is not working as effectively as it should. Clearly, we need to improve these mechanisms.
You mentioned Ukrainians. It is quite possible that there are as many Ukrainians already living in Russia as in Ukraine; maybe even more. I am not kidding – this is quite possible, I mean, if we take into account the people living in our new territories, Crimea as well as those who have moved to Russia, there are millions of people. This suggests we have about the same number of Ukrainians living here as in Ukraine now. Speaking of which, they are welcome in Russia, the door is open to them. These people are part of our culture; they are part of our nation.
As I said, these mechanisms certainly need to be improved. We are interested in qualified workforce, including people who simply – well, not “simply,” as this is not a simple thing at all – who uphold our traditional values. This is difficult to assess. We need to work on this to be able to do this effectively. We will certainly continue doing this.
As for the specific case you mentioned – please send me this person’s details, will you? We will definitely help him.
Dmitry Kulko: Thank you.
Alexandra Suvorova: At the very beginning of the programme we told you that we also used artificial intelligence in our work. GigaChat helped us select most frequent topics in the queries.
Among the top queries, of course, is housing and mortgages. You also said at the beginning of the programme that we are going to revisit this issue more than once. If we look at our monitors now, we will see that this topic is at the top of the list. Actually, the number of queries is also significant.
Let us now bring up a video question from a young family from
Krasnodar.
Question: For three months we’ve been trying to take out a family mortgage. The banks are constantly running out of limits, or they increase the down payment from 20 to 50 percent.
Please, tell us how things will be with the family mortgage in general because at present it is very difficult to get it. Also, in addition to the family mortgage, it is next to impossible to get a rural and IT mortgage. That is, banks are constantly running out of limits, plus they do not want to approve it.
Remark: They keep changing mortgage plans every day, when you apply.
Remark: Banks have recently introduced a so-called “combo-mortgage” plan, when they add their interest, and the mortgage rate goes up from six to 13 percent. In other words, banks simply do not want to issue mortgages for families.
Question: What are we to do?
Vladimir Putin: Thank you for this question and for highlighting this problem. This is an outrage, first of all, because there should be no limits, and the Government and I have already discussed this topic. I was promised – and I will check how well this promise is being fulfilled – that there will be no limits.
Because at the end of the day, this is all about subsidies from the state. Banks should enjoy receiving six percent from those who use family mortgage loans, while the difference between the bank rate and this six percent should be reimbursed by the state. And there should be no limits on the part of the state.
This difference ends up in banks, by the way, it is income for them, and not a small one. So if they refuse to approve a family mortgage, it means that the Government does not send this subsidy to the bank in time, probably. I will check, I promise you, I will definitely check. But we have agreed that there will be no limits. This is the first point.
Second, this refers to family mortgages at three percent and to rural mortgages. Family mortgages are issued at six percent, rural mortgages at three percent. This is a very important tool in housing construction. Why? Because of the total volume of housing built – which last year was 110 million square metres, a record high since the Soviet Union, nothing like this had ever happened before – 50 percent were private houses, mostly in rural areas. Moreover, such mortgages are taken out by people under 40 or a little older, they move to rural areas, live there, take out mortgages, and build families. This mortgage plan should not have any limits either. It amounts to a few tens of billions for the budget, which is absolutely uncritical, and it should be preserved.
The same goes for IT mortgages. How much do we have? Six or five percent. In any case, it is a preferential mortgage, and there are not that many people who take it out. We discussed it just recently, and someone suggested that it should be terminated but there is little sense in doing it so as to save budget funds.
Family mortgages are definitely staying, and rural mortgages are definitely staying. I ask the Government to provide the necessary subsidies. We will put things in order here.
Alexandra Suvorova: This also refers to Far Eastern regions and new regions.
Vladimir Putin: Far Eastern mortgages at two percent are staying, so do the Arctic mortgages – two percent, and the new regions – two percent.
Dmitry Kulko: Mr President, I suggest we now address an issue that, unfortunately, remains pressing year after year – the problem of phone scammers.
We warn people daily about this on television.
Vladimir Putin: By the way, sorry to interrupt, 110 million square metres of housing were built last year. This year, it will be slightly less – around 105 million – but that is still a very good figure.
Dmitry Kulko: Phone scammers. The severity of this problem can be understood from just one number: 250 billion rubles –that is how much scammers stole from Russians this year, according to Sberbank estimates.
These miscreants call and say all sorts of things: they claim to represent the Central Bank or the Federal Security Service (FSB), warn that deposits in all banks will be frozen, and demand that people transfer money to other accounts, or even take out loans. Yelena Markelova from Kazan found herself in such a situation. Let us watch her video appeal now.
Yelena Markelova: Good afternoon, Mr President.
My name is Yelena Markelova. I am a pensioner from Kazan, 63 years old.
Recently, I fell for a scam. My account on Gosuslugi (public services) portal was hacked, and as a result of their actions, I now owe two banks 1.9 million rubles.
My appeal is a cry for help. How is it possible that the banks, where I am a client and receive a pension of 18,770 rubles, approve such loans without requesting any income documents, without asking for any of my contacts who could act as a guarantor for me, and for such large amounts with monthly payments that exceed my monthly income?
Given the large number of pensioners being targeted by scammers, is it not time to take more serious measures and require banks to more thoroughly monitor the actions of their employees and rigorously verify applications, especially from elderly people?
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, you are right. What is your name?
Dmitry Kulko: Yelena Markelova.
Vladimir Putin: Ms Markelova, you are absolutely right.
There is not much I can add to what you said. Indeed, banks have become adept at issuing loans quickly – practically instantly – but they must assess the borrower’s solvency. There is even a specific rule stating that if more than 50 percent of a citizen’s income goes toward servicing a loan, issuing such a loan becomes more costly for the bank, and the burden on the bank’s capital increases. This rule comes from the Central Bank. However, what is happening now is deeply concerning, because the scale of this fraud is off the charts.
At a recent Sberbank event, German Gref briefed me on this issue. He explained that across the entire banking system, scammers from the territory of Ukraine alone, where fraudulent activity has essentially been elevated to the level of state policy, where entire centres operating under the control of special services are dedicated to swindling money from Russian citizens, have stolen over 250 billion rubles from our citizens’ accounts.
Of course, these practices have reached a substantial scale. In fact, Nazi Germany acted in a similar fashion by printing banknotes of our World War II allies, including the UK. They printed pound sterling notes and placed them into circulation in order to undermine the British economy.
We are witnessing a similar trend in present-day Ukraine as far as these fraudulent practices are concerned. Of course, we need to make sure that there is discipline in this sector, so this is something that deserves our serious attention.
For example, let them grant loans under 50,000 rubles, and let them do this online and instantly. As for the loans between 50,000 and 200,000 rubles, people definitely need at least several hours to carry out additional checks and take a final decision. As for the loans exceeding 200,000 rubles, this process must definitely take at least several days.
I know that both the State Duma and the Central Bank have been discussing these matters and are committed to further improving the decisions dealing with the capital burden with respect to the banks granting unsecured loans of this kind. I hope that these efforts will enable us to achieve the desired outcomes.
There is another problem, as reported by both the Central Bank Governor and the Interior Ministry. Credit cards are opened for people who are not taking part in this fraud, or so it seems. The scammers get money out of their victims by first transferring it to the so-called intermediary cards, and then take hold of the money from these cards.
Meanwhile, those who open these credit cards pretend that they are not involved in any way. There is a proposal to strengthen controls in this regard and to tighten liability for these people, since they are accomplices in these crimes and are taking part in these scams. They may not be doing anything from a formal point of view, but they know why someone is opening a credit card in their name.
The proposal consists of making this a criminal offence. I am not saying that this decision is approved, but we will definitely have to move in this direction.
Alexandra Suvorova: Do you know anyone who has suffered from phone scams?
Vladimir Putin: I do not know anyone in my entourage who suffered from these practices, but there are certainly those who told me that they got calls from scammers.
Alexandra Suvorova: It seems that these phone calls will keep coming.
Vladimir Putin: Maybe so, but as soon as they hear an unfamiliar voice making any kind of proposals to them dealing with doing anything along these lines, they hang up immediately.
And this would be my advice for all people of Russia.
Dmitry Kulko: Quite often, these unfamiliar voices come from call centres in Ukraine. There were reports that the number of phone calls from scammers declines whenever the Ukrainian energy system suffers a strike. It seems that these call centres simply lose their power supply.
Vladimir Putin: They do not have enough electric power capacity.
Dmitry Kulko: What about adding these call centres to the list of our priority targets?
Vladimir Putin: No. The priority targets include military sites and defence industry manufacturing facilities. The list can also include decision-making centres. As for these call centres, we will not waste our munitions on them. There is no reason for doing so. We must take the necessary measures here in Russia and to work through the relevant institutions, including the Central Bank and the federal Government, as well as the Interior Ministry’s departments.
Alexandra Suvorova: Dmitry, Mr Peskov seems to be casting rather unfriendly glances our way.
Dmitry Peskov: Let’s shift our focus back to the audience for a moment.
Ukraine has been mentioned. I see the sign “Other Ukraine.”
Galina Merkulova: Mr President,
My name is Galina Merkulova, I am a deputy head of media resources for Other Ukraine, an international public movement that represents the interests of millions of Ukrainian citizens both within Ukraine, regrettably still under the control of the Kiev regime, and in Russia, Europe, and across the globe, where we have 55 offices in operation.
The Other Ukraine public movement believes that the sole means of rescuing Ukrainians from Zelensky’s criminal illegitimate regime, which has usurped the executive, legislative, and judicial powers, is through the reunification of the Ukrainian and Russian peoples.
Now, here is our question: under what conditions are you prepared to commence negotiations with Kiev? If not with Zelensky, then with whom?
Additionally, one more crucial aspect: in Ukraine, the Russian Orthodox Church is not merely under attack; it is virtually expelled. What is your stance on this matter, and do you believe that the position of the Russian Orthodox Church has been undermined?
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Indeed. Firstly, regarding the illegitimacy of the regime, I have previously addressed this issue. I understand that the leader, the mastermind behind this movement, this organisation… Is it the Other Ukraine organisation?
Galina Merkulova: It’s a movement.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, it is, apparently, Viktor Medvedchuk, isn’t it?
We rarely see each other, but I am aware that he shares this view. So, what constitutes the illegitimacy of the regime? Allow me to reiterate: there is no provision in the Constitution of Ukraine to extend the powers of the President, even under martial law. There is only one representative body of power, the Council, or the Rada, whose powers can be extended without elections under martial law. I repeat, this is the Rada.
What is the challenge for Ukraine? I understand that you are cognisant of this: the state system in Ukraine is structured in such a way that a plethora of government bodies are appointed by the president. This includes regional governors, leadership of all law enforcement agencies, and so forth. However, if the head of state is illegitimate, then everything else loses its legitimacy in terms of executive bodies and law enforcement agencies. And everything they do, following his instructions, makes them aware that they are complicit in this unlawful activity. This is the first point.
Now, regarding the conditions for starting negotiations: We have no preconditions. We are ready to engage in dialogue without any preconditions. However, as I have mentioned numerous times before, based on the agreements that we reached during the negotiation process in Istanbul at the end of 2022 and proceeding from the current realities on the ground.
Our positions were clearly outlined, including in my June speech to the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Everything that needs to be said is already there. There is no point in repeating.
If the head of the regime is illegitimate, then with whom? You know, if someone were to go through elections and gain legitimacy, we would talk with anyone, including Zelensky.
If Ukraine truly wants a peaceful settlement, they have the ability to organise this process within their country as they see fit. We can only sign agreements with those who hold legitimate authority, such as the Verkhovna Rada and its Chair, who are fully subordinate to the head of the regime. This is simply a formal legal matter.
They can organise it as they see fit within their country. But if we ever get to the point of signing a document, it can only be done with the representatives of legitimate authorities, that is the bottom line.
Alexandra Suvorova: There was also a question about the Russian Orthodox Church.
Vladimir Putin: You know, what is happening with regard to the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine is a unique situation. This is a gross, blatant violation of human rights, the rights of believers. The church is being torn apart right before everyone’s eyes. This is like execution by firing squad, and yet the world seems to ignore it.
I think those who engage in such actions will get it back. You mentioned that they are tearing things apart, and that is exactly what is happening. These people are not even atheists. Atheists are individuals who believe in the idea that there is no God, but this is their faith, their convictions and worldview.
But these are not atheists; they are people without any faith at all. They are ethnic Jews, but who has ever seen them in a synagogue? They are not Orthodox Christians either, since they do not attend churches. And they certainly are not followers of Islam, as they are unlikely to be seen in a mosque.
These are individuals without kith or kin. They do not care about anything that is dear to us and the overwhelming majority of the Ukrainian people. Eventually, they will run away someday and go to the beach rather than to church. But that is their choice.
I believe that someday the people in Ukraine, and the majority of Ukrainians are still connected to Orthodoxy, will evaluate their actions accordingly.
Dmitry Peskov: Let us take a couple more questions from the audience. I would be remiss not to give Radio Purga a chance to ask a question.
Anastasia Lavrentyeva: Good afternoon.
Radio Purga, Chukotka Autonomous Area. My name is Anastasia Lavrentyeva. Thank you very much for this opportunity.
I am looking at the monitors showing the relevance of topics for various regions, and I see confirmation that my question is indeed important and concerns many residents of our region. It is about connectivity and internet access.
Mr President, in Chukotka, high-speed internet is available only in the regional capital, the only city. All other residents of the region are deprived of the benefits and opportunities the internet has to offer. Beyond entertainment, essential services like the Gosuslugi portal, banking services for the business are inaccessible to most of Chukotka residents. Could you help address this issue of digital inequality, if possible?
Vladimir Putin: Yes, there is no need for lengthy discussion, because we already have a programme for developing internet connectivity, including high-speed internet, as well as communication infrastructure in general. This involves satellite constellations, particularly those focused on communication systems.
All of this will certainly be implemented. I will not go into the details since they are widely known and publicly available. We are working in this direction, with corresponding resources allocated and plans in place. There will be no disruptions, and we will proceed according to the plan.
I very much hope that residents of remote regions too, including Chukotka, will fully enjoy the benefits of modern civilisation. For a country like ours, this is extremely important, as more and more people work remotely and receive education online. High-speed internet is critical in this regard. We will undoubtedly achieve this. There is no doubt about it.
Dmitry Peskov: Alexander is one of the patriarchs of Russian journalism. Please.
Alexander Gamov: Thank you very much.
Komsomolskaya Pravda website, radio, and newspaper. And “Putin’s team.” I am sitting here today with young ladies, Yulia and Marina, who welcomed me into their group.
This has not been mentioned yet, but I would like to congratulate all of us, and you, Mr President, because, by my estimates, today marks the 20th news conference, even though some colleagues argue that it is the 21st conference. There is no other format like this elsewhere in the world, and I hope it continues for as long as possible.
Now, my question. Contrary to sceptics’ predictions, the presidential programme “The Time of Heroes” has not become a fleeting project or a mere formality. It is working. What hopes did you personally have for it? Have they been realised? What hopes do you have for it now?
In the past few days and hours, a question has increasingly occupied my mind: why do we not adequately care for and protect our heroes? I am speaking not only about the death of General Kirillov, which was briefly mentioned here today, but also about numerous instances where participants in the special military operation have been insulted. Fortunately, law enforcement agencies have been vigilant, and justice has prevailed, as was extensively reported.
As concerns the Time of Heroes programme. I represent the heroic newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, which served as a frontline publication during the Great Patriotic War and continues to do so today. Our war correspondents work with courage, and since 2014, we have been publishing KP in Donetsk, Donbass.
Next year, we will be celebrating our 100th anniversary on May 24, 2025. My colleagues have asked me to extend an invitation to you. Mikhail Petrov shared with us how the TASS agency commemorated its 120th anniversary with great ceremony and was honoured with an order. We look forward to welcoming you on May 24 at about noon. Will you attend, Mr President?
Vladimir Putin: I will make every effort to be there.
Alexander Gamov: Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much for the invitation. The Komsomolka newspaper has been an integral part of the lives of many generations of our citizens. People would begin their day with it and continue to rely on it throughout the day. The newspaper is evolving into a modern media platform, operating across all information environments. It remains a stable, reliable, and objective media outlet. I would like to congratulate you on the success of your work and express my gratitude for the invitation.
Regarding the Time of Heroes platform, I have previously mentioned that the idea occurred to me after meeting in St Petersburg with young participants, mainly students, involved in the special military operation. Observing them, I thought: here they are – the future of our country, the future workforce. This is how the concept for such a platform was conceived. I will not conceal that after returning to Moscow and presenting the idea, I requested my colleagues in the Executive Office to bring it to fruition. They are the ones who came up with the name The Time of Heroes, which I believe is an excellent choice.
The first round attracted 43,000 applications. Naturally, the selection process is quite rigorous: we chose only 83 individuals from these 43,000. And understandably so, as we require individuals with experience in administrative work, those who are educated and meet the criteria necessary for future roles as leaders of major companies, municipalities, entire regions, ministries and agencies, among others.
I stated this at the United Russia party congress, and I would like to reiterate it now: certainly, all are worthy – every one of our men and women fighting for their Motherland, risking their lives and health, is deserving. However, there is the matter of their suitability for the professional path they aspire to pursue. Once again, education and experience are prerequisites.
In general, it is one thing to fight for the Motherland and quite another to work with people. You must possess a certain talent and aptitude for it, you know? These are distinct types of activities. We must select the right individuals from this group who are both willing and able to excel in these areas. Thus far, there have been no missteps: they are truly outstanding individuals.
The second enrolment campaign is currently underway, and the number of applications has already exceeded 15,000. It will continue next year until mid-January or February, I think. This is to say that this effort is gathering pace.
As for the first class, its participants continue their training, even though many of them have already received offers, and quite a few are already working in new positions. Some of them went as far as become heads of regions. This genuinely makes me happy. Some are working in the private sector, while others have taken up jobs in government institutions and administrations at all levels, including regional, local and federal agencies, as well as major corporations.
I would like to reiterate what I said at the United Russia congress. During my recent visit to a rehabilitation centre, I met with young men who had suffered severe wounds. Some had lost a leg, or an arm. But here is what I wanted to tell you: there was fire in their eyes. They want and are ready to work and to make a difference. And they have everything it takes to succeed. Thanks to the latest rehabilitation methods – I am talking about the most advanced and recently developed treatments – they can do anything without any health restrictions or limitations. All we need to do is help them get there.
Let me reiterate that one of these men – I remember his face – told me: “I understand that I need an education and experience, but I do not have either an education or any experience; still, I want to do it.” These are the kind of people we need. We need people who want to work. All we need to do is help them. We must find them and support them.
You know, it just occurred to me that when I applied to join a judo club, our coach, Anatoly Rakhlin, told us: go ahead and do as many pull-ups as you can. For some reason, several of those who did more pull-ups than I did were not accepted. Several years later, we asked him: Mr Rakhlin, how come you refused to accept these young men, but decided to take us on board despite the fact that we could not do as many pull-ups? You know what his answer was? He was a wise man, you know. He said, this is because you put in all the effort you had until your arms were shaking, but you still kept trying to reach the bar with your chin, while those who did more pull-ups than you, they did it without any stress, and they could have done more, but they did not put in all the effort they had and did not give it their all.
These men have given all they have, they are willing to go the whole nine yards, and we must help them. They need our support.
Alexander Gamov: There was also a question about protecting our heroes.
Vladimir Putin: This is a very important question, indeed. You are right.
What can I say? First, this has happened before, and we have already seen these attempts and understand what our adversary is after. Unfortunately, this was not a standalone, isolated assassination attempt. In fact, people outside the military have also been targeted. I have already told your American colleague that there have been assassination attempts against journalists and public figures before. Do you remember how Dugina lost her life?
What does it mean? This demonstrates the Kiev regime’s terrorist nature. At the same time, of course, it indicates that our competent law enforcement agencies and intelligence services failed to prevent these attacks and allowed these blows to reach their targets. What can I say in this regard? We must further improve their work and prevent these failures, which come at such a huge cost to us. That is all there is to it.
Alexander Gamov: Thank you.
Dmitry Peskov: You know, I have caught sight of a very popular young blogger. He is getting up.
Vlad Bumaga: Mr President, good afternoon.
My name is Vlad Bumaga, and I am a popular video blogger. I have over 80 million subscribers on social networks, mostly young people.
As we know, young people spend a lot of time online – an average of five to eight hours per day, with half of that time devoted to watching video content. For my part, like many other creators, I am actively involved in developing our Russian platforms, such as VK Video. Of course, these platforms are not yet very large, but they demonstrate good and confident growth and provide high-quality services.
My question in this connection is this: why block YouTube if our platforms are coping well as they are? They are competitive and offer excellent terms and alternatives for creators? Moreover, we can upload content there and transmit our ideas and messages to audiences that extend beyond the Russian-speaking community.
There is another important issue. As I mentioned before, practically all children in this country know and watch me. I will add that I became a father myself earlier this year.
Vladimir Putin: My congratulations!
Vlad Bumaga: Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Please congratulate your wife on my behalf, it is her due.
Vlad Bumaga: I will do so without fail.
I would like to ask what values I, as a person whose videos nurture an entire generation, should communicate to the audience. Or, perhaps, what messages I should not communicate to the audience. What is your personal opinion on the ideas and messages that should be prioritised when it comes to young people? Give us a direction, so to speak. We will take note and start working.
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: First, regarding the YouTube slowdown. Here, there are more questions for YouTube than for us.
Sorry, let me first ask whether Vlad Bumaga is your pen-name?
Vlad Bumaga: No, it is my real name.
Vladimir Putin: I see, excellent! Paper (bumaga), in a well-known game, is stronger than stone. Therefore, I congratulate you: 80 million subscribers, did you say? This is certainly a unique achievement. This means the content you create meets the expectations of these 80 million people. This is the result of your creative work, and I congratulate you on that.
As for the slowdown, YouTube is owned by Google. When it started operating in Russia, it created its Russian subsidiaries, the legal entities on its payroll, as well as the services it should take care of. It worked with the subsidiaries it had created, but when the West started introducing various restrictions and sanctions, Google stopped or reduced the financing of these subsidiaries and the provision of the necessary equipment, thereby creating problems for itself. This is the first point.
Second, YouTube and Google must comply with our laws and avoid dishonest online activities. In other words, they must not use online resources for promoting their governments’ political goals.
Here is what I mean. Suppose you search for some information online, for example regarding culture or music, but instead, you are offered information that has nothing to do with culture or music but promotes a certain political platform. They are also removing the names of our artists, bloggers, politicians and the like from their services.
All this amounts to a violation of Russian laws. As a result, Roskomnadzor and other relevant authorities present their claims, and rightly so. Therefore, the perpetrators face a choice. They can choose to respect our laws, which would expose them to restrictions in their own country, forcing them to limit their operations to their own territory, or they can choose to work in Russia, in which case they must respect our laws.
As for what you have said, nature abhors a vacuum, and competition is growing here with the development of VK, Telegram and Rutube. If Google and YouTube, being aware of that, change the mode of their operations, they will have no problems here.
Regarding the subjects that can be used to enhance the awareness of our young people, how this can be done and what should not be done, I am sure that there is no need for my advice. People like you, especially now that you have become a father, have a growing sense of responsibility. It is a responsibility to your children, their future and the country where your children will live. This feeling of responsibility is a better guide than I could ever be about what would be useful for our children in the future, what is dangerous and unacceptable, and what you should fight against, not on my instructions but at the call of your heart.
Dmitry Peskov: Thank you.
I believe I have overlooked TV-3; they certainly do not deserve this.
Vladimir Putin: May I interrupt you for a second? We were just talking about children, and I see a young woman over there with a “Families with children deceived” sign. How were they deceived?
Anna Suvorova: Apparently, this is not about child benefits, because we have already discussed them.
Vladimir Putin: I could have mentioned them. I think I did.
Yelena Usmanova: I can explain.
Good afternoon, Mr President.
Yelena Usmanova, Business Online newspaper from Tatarstan – this is Tatarstan again.
First of all, I would like to thank you on behalf of Kazan for the honour of hosting the BRICS summit, but my question is about something else, as you can see from the poster.
A group of scammers deceived hundreds of families in Tatarstan who wanted their own homes. Each of them took out a preferential mortgage for individual housing construction under the state support programme, but the houses were never built.
Will the authorities help the defrauded borrowers under that programme, as they once helped the unfortunate co-investors in apartment block projects who were subsequently cheated out of their property? These people continue to pay mortgages for hot air, while the government continues to transfer state support to banks for houses that were never even built. When will they start helping people, not banks?
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Please, listen to me. It is not about the banks at all. We have created a system of escrow accounts, where people transfer their money when they take out a mortgage. The money is then frozen in those escrow accounts until the new owners receive their housing. Where have they transferred the money?
Yelena Usmanova: No, this is about the individual housing construction programme. Houses, not apartments.
Vladimir Putin: There is no difference.
Yelena Usmanova: Apparently, that arrangement was not yet in place at the time.
Vladimir Putin: Individual housing construction qualifies for preferential mortgage programmes. As I said, the interest is 3 percent in rural areas. Single-family homes account for 50 percent of the 110 million square metres built in 2023 and 105 million this year. Fifty percent is a breakthrough. But the money should be in escrow accounts. Where have the people transferred this money and why did they do it, if those were not escrow accounts? I really do not understand what you are talking about.
Yelena Usmanova: This is what happened in Tatarstan. Hundreds of families have indeed found themselves in this predicament.
Vladimir Putin: Can you tell me where they transferred the money?
Yelena Usmanova: I am not sure about the details. I know that they took –
Vladimir Putin: Listen, please, what is your name?
Yelena Usmanova: Yelena.
Vladimir Putin: Yelena, these details matter.
Yelena Usmanova: There were definitely no escrow accounts there.
Vladimir Putin: How could this have happened? This may be another fraudulent scheme, like the ones scammers use to steal money from people’s accounts.
We will need to look into this, because this particular case may give us leads on other possible cases of this kind and help prevent this kind of fraud.
Right now, I cannot make heads or tails of what you are saying. Please provide us with more information. All right, Yelena? This is extremely important.
Why? Because the main point here is that we still have numerous unfinished housing projects. However, the total amount we now have in the escrow accounts is about 7 trillion rubles, or maybe even a little more. This is more than 65 percent of the amount needed to complete the projects co-financed by the people in 2025. I can almost guarantee that this housing will be built. And no one will be cheated out of their apartments, because part of the work is already done. The money is in these accounts; it is protected. If you are referring to cases where no escrow accounts were used, please provide this information – this needs to be sorted out.
Thank you.
To be continued.