Quotes from Vladimir Putin

Russia needs a strong state power and must have it. But I am not calling for totalitarianism.

Presidents come and go, and even parties come to and away from power. But the main policy tack does not change.

It is a major world power, and today it is an economic and military leader - no doubt about it. That is why America has a strong influence on the situation in the world in general.

I am the wealthiest man, not just in Europe, but in the whole world. I collect emotions. I am wealthy in that the people of Russia have twice entrusted me with the leadership of a great nation such as Russia - I believe that is my greatest wealth.

Russia does not have in its possession any trustworthy data that supports the existence of nuclear weapons or any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and we have not received any such information from our partners as yet.

Russia is opposed to the proliferation of mass destruction weapons, including nuclear weapons, and in this context we call upon our Iranian friends to abandon the uranium enrichment programme.

When the States already had nuclear weapons, and the Soviet Union was only building them, we got a significant amount of information through Soviet foreign intelligence channels.

U.S. society doesn't want to play the role of international policeman.

The growing economic potential of India and Russia is mutually complementary in many respects.

Those who fight corruption should be clean themselves.

China is a great country with a great culture, populated by fascinating, industrious and talented people.

We have a professional relationship [with Chancellor Angela Merkel].2016 is the year of the German-Russian youth exchange, so the relations are moving on.

We have good personal relationship with President Obama, our relations are quite frank and business-like. And this is quite enough to do our job.

My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this.

Respect for sovereignty means to not allow unconstitutional action and coup d'états, the removal of legitimate power.

My notion of the KGB came from romantic spy stories. I was a pure and utterly successful product of Soviet patriotic education.

Whatever we do, all the knowledge, the experience, they stay with us, we carry them on, use them in one way or another.

Democracy is not possible without effectively working legal system.

How does one control weight? By not overeating. How does one stay in shape? One plays sports. There are no magic pills here.

I see that not everyone in the West has understood that the Soviet Union has disappeared from the political map of the world and that a new country has emerged with new humanist and ideological principles at the foundation of its existence.

I think the American people should express their preferences, and we'll accept their choice.

President Obama hasn't been elected by the American people in order to be pleasant to Russia.

The task of the government is not only to pour honey into a cup, but sometimes to give bitter medicine.

Homosexuals in Russia live in peace, work, are promoted, receive national awards for their achievements in science, art or any other sphere, medals are awarded to them, I have awarded them myself.