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| Vladimir Putin's annual press conference - live | Vladimir Putin's annual press conference - live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.06am GMT10:06 | |
| Some points from Putin on Ukraine: | |
| Updated at 10.17am GMT | |
| 10.04am GMT10:04 | |
| Here’s some copy from the Associated Press about Putin’s comments on Syria. | |
| President Vladimir Putin says that Russian military operation in Syria will continue until a political process starts. Putin said at a televised news conference that once the Syrians decide it’s time to stop fighting and launch talks, “we aren’t going to be more Syrian than the Syrians themselves,” and Moscow will wrap up its military action. | |
| He says that he was unsure whether Russia needs a permanent military base in Syria. He said new Russian weapons, such as sea- and air-launched cruise missiles, give Moscow enough punch to strike an enemy and there may be no need for a permanent base in Syria. | |
| Putin also said the Syrian people themselves must determine who rules the country. | |
| Putin, who met U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this week, said Moscow supports a U.S. draft of a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria. He says a new constitution for Syria must be drafted, and a new election prepared in which the Syrians themselves will determine its leadership. | |
| He adds that Russia believes that a political settlement is the only way to end the Syrian crisis. | |
| Putin says Russia and the U.S. agree on the need to ensure work on a new constitution and create mechanisms of control over future elections. | |
| Updated at 10.12am GMT | |
| 10.02am GMT10:02 | |
| Putin referred to Ukraine as “our brotherly republic, as I never get tired of saying.” | |
| A Ukrainian journalist asked if captured Russian officers would be exchanged for Ukrainian helicopter pilot Nadezhda Savchenko. Putin says the criminal case against them has excluded this possibility. | |
| Face of Ukrainian journalist as #Putin again says no Russian soldiers are in Ukraine, Savchenko exchange impossible pic.twitter.com/f7CqhpNkYK | |
| Updated at 10.19am GMT | |
| 9.57am GMT09:57 | |
| Putin on Ukraine: “We never said there were not people there who carried out certain tasks including in the military sphere”. But this is different to the regular Russian army, he adds. | |
| Putin: We have never denied that we have people in Ukraine, including those working in the military sphere, but not regular troops | |
| Updated at 9.58am GMT | |
| 9.56am GMT09:56 | |
| Kremlin pool reporter has a big scoop. Putin has a new cup. | |
| У Путина в этом году новая чашка. В прошлом году была другая - необычная pic.twitter.com/gXw3mxyccM | |
| Updated at 9.57am GMT | |
| 9.55am GMT09:55 | |
| Russia doesn’t necessarily need a permanent base in Syria, Putin says. | |
| "Why do we need a permanent base in Syria? If we need to get somebody, we'll get 'em". Applause again. | |
| Updated at 10.07am GMT | |
| 9.54am GMT09:54 | |
| Time for a coffee tbh. | |
| So basically there is no clear plan in Syria. #PutinPresser | |
| 9.52am GMT09:52 | |
| Putin says Russia has partially succeeded in uniting Syrian government and opposition forces in their fight against ISIS. He says Russia will continue air strikes in Syria for as long as Syrian army continues its own military operations. | |
| 9.51am GMT09:51 | |
| Putin says the Russian plan on Syria generally overlaps with the US one. | |
| Putin: Our plan on Syria generally overlaps with the American vision. | |
| #Putin says Kerry came to Moscow with project for UN resolution. Good step but Syrian government should also approve pic.twitter.com/NE5IyR3qcO | |
| Updated at 10.07am GMT | |
| 9.50am GMT09:50 | |
| State run Channel One asks: “Do we have a clear plan on Syria? Or are we being impulsive?” | |
| Putin says ISIS is a threat to everyone. “The quicker we can deal with it. The better. Nothing other than political solution [in Syria]”. | |
| Updated at 10.07am GMT | |
| 9.47am GMT09:47 | |
| Putin says he doesn’t see any prospect for reviving relations with Turkey. | |
| #Putin says sees no possibility to mend ties with Turkey on world stage after shooting down of Russian warplane | |
| If it was an accident, pick up the phone & explain. Instead Turkey hid behind NATO, #Putin says pic.twitter.com/yJ8eg3OL7R | |
| #Putin says ISIS arose to fill power vacuum made by US invasion of Iraq. Uses Islamic slogans to keep oil flowing pic.twitter.com/SIIlkK01YI | |
| Putin says Ataturk would be rolling in his grave over Islamization in modern Turkey. | |
| Putin uses his classic line when he clashes with foreign countries: argument with Turkey is with leadership, not people | |
| Putin on Russia's Turkish-speaking people: You are part of Russia so don't rock the boat. Turkey's leadership "stabbed us in the back" | |
| Wow, Putin completely ignores part of Q about Turkish students deported etc, sticks with v tough line on relations being ruined. Signal. | |
| Also... what? | |
| Putin says the Islamist government in Turkey tried to sell itself to the West is "our son of a bitch" | |
| 9.42am GMT09:42 | 9.42am GMT09:42 |
| Putin on Turkey shooting down Russian bomber: "Did they think we'd run away? No, we're not that kind of country." pic.twitter.com/4tyFnQuE5l | Putin on Turkey shooting down Russian bomber: "Did they think we'd run away? No, we're not that kind of country." pic.twitter.com/4tyFnQuE5l |
| 9.39am GMT09:39 | 9.39am GMT09:39 |
| Oh boy... | Oh boy... |
| "Someone in the Turkish leadership tried to lick the Americans in a particular place". *laughter, applause* | "Someone in the Turkish leadership tried to lick the Americans in a particular place". *laughter, applause* |
| 9.38am GMT09:38 | 9.38am GMT09:38 |
| Putin is angry that Ankara called Brussels, not Moscow, when the Russian jet was downed. | Putin is angry that Ankara called Brussels, not Moscow, when the Russian jet was downed. |
| Good question from Tatarstan about Tatarstan's ties to Turkey. Shows up stupid comments abt Turkey by Culture Minister Medinsky too. #Putin | Good question from Tatarstan about Tatarstan's ties to Turkey. Shows up stupid comments abt Turkey by Culture Minister Medinsky too. #Putin |
| And here comes Anadolou, talking about post-#russianjet harassment of Turks in Russia. Because yes, goddamit, it is happening. #Putin | And here comes Anadolou, talking about post-#russianjet harassment of Turks in Russia. Because yes, goddamit, it is happening. #Putin |
| #Putin angry that Ankara called Brussels, not Moscow, when #russianjet downed. Think he saw it as personal slight on top of everything else. | #Putin angry that Ankara called Brussels, not Moscow, when #russianjet downed. Think he saw it as personal slight on top of everything else. |
| 9.35am GMT09:35 | 9.35am GMT09:35 |
| Putin says the downing of the Russian jet by Turkey was a hostile act. | Putin says the downing of the Russian jet by Turkey was a hostile act. |
| Putin: Downing of Russian military aircraft by Turkey was ``a hostile act." People were killed.. no accident. They tried to cover it up | Putin: Downing of Russian military aircraft by Turkey was ``a hostile act." People were killed.. no accident. They tried to cover it up |
| Updated at 9.38am GMT | Updated at 9.38am GMT |
| 9.34am GMT09:34 | 9.34am GMT09:34 |
| We’ve gone to two more Turkey questions. The Guardian’s Shaun Walker says it looks like a planned opportunity for Putin to give the signal to officials to stop harrassing Turks in Russia. | We’ve gone to two more Turkey questions. The Guardian’s Shaun Walker says it looks like a planned opportunity for Putin to give the signal to officials to stop harrassing Turks in Russia. |
| Updated at 9.34am GMT | Updated at 9.34am GMT |
| 9.32am GMT09:32 | 9.32am GMT09:32 |
| Putin interrupted Peskov to take a question from a Tatar business journalist because she had “such a big sign”. She asked whether Russia should break off investment ties with Turkey. | |
| She's also telling Putin that if the President of Tatarstan has to stop calling himself a President, it could hurt feelings of all Tatars | She's also telling Putin that if the President of Tatarstan has to stop calling himself a President, it could hurt feelings of all Tatars |
| Putin asked about severing ties to the Turk world comes by Tatar journo. Turks are big investors in Muslim-dominated Tatarstan | Putin asked about severing ties to the Turk world comes by Tatar journo. Turks are big investors in Muslim-dominated Tatarstan |
| Updated at 10.06am GMT | |
| 9.30am GMT09:30 | 9.30am GMT09:30 |
| The map of Russia behind Putin’s head includes the annexed Crimea. | The map of Russia behind Putin’s head includes the annexed Crimea. |
| Putin speaking with background of Crimea-included map of Russia pic.twitter.com/H57CvMPlIn | Putin speaking with background of Crimea-included map of Russia pic.twitter.com/H57CvMPlIn |
| 9.27am GMT09:27 | 9.27am GMT09:27 |
| WHOSE IS IT?! | WHOSE IS IT?! |
| This is how you have to try to get a question. One of these signs says "I'm pregnant". Really. pic.twitter.com/BglhK5xkOF | This is how you have to try to get a question. One of these signs says "I'm pregnant". Really. pic.twitter.com/BglhK5xkOF |
| Updated at 9.27am GMT | Updated at 9.27am GMT |
| 9.25am GMT09:25 | 9.25am GMT09:25 |
| Here’s a video of Putin’s “old joke”. I have a feeling the punchline got lost in translation. | Here’s a video of Putin’s “old joke”. I have a feeling the punchline got lost in translation. |
| 9.25am GMT09:25 | 9.25am GMT09:25 |
| And how would you attempt to draw Putin’s attention? | And how would you attempt to draw Putin’s attention? |
| She wants to get Putin's attention thanks to this doll. Let's wish her luck. #PutinPresser #oF24 pic.twitter.com/gEogH1W5qp | She wants to get Putin's attention thanks to this doll. Let's wish her luck. #PutinPresser #oF24 pic.twitter.com/gEogH1W5qp |
| 9.24am GMT09:24 | 9.24am GMT09:24 |
| Putin just called for a round of applause for a RIA Novosti journalist who asked a question about why central bank should lower rates. | Putin just called for a round of applause for a RIA Novosti journalist who asked a question about why central bank should lower rates. |
| 9.22am GMT09:22 | 9.22am GMT09:22 |
| Meanwhile on Red Square a man has apparently tried to set himself on fire. | Meanwhile on Red Square a man has apparently tried to set himself on fire. |
| В Москве мужчина попытался совершить самосожжение на Красной площади https://t.co/CbWW6QWZGL pic.twitter.com/NeciP967ed | В Москве мужчина попытался совершить самосожжение на Красной площади https://t.co/CbWW6QWZGL pic.twitter.com/NeciP967ed |
| 9.21am GMT09:21 | 9.21am GMT09:21 |
| AP reports: | AP reports: |
| President Vladimir Putin says that Russia’s economy is showing signs of stabilization despite plummeting oil prices. | President Vladimir Putin says that Russia’s economy is showing signs of stabilization despite plummeting oil prices. |
| He said that despite a GDP drop caused by a drop in global oil prices, Russia’s main commodity, the nation’s industries have started to rebound. | He said that despite a GDP drop caused by a drop in global oil prices, Russia’s main commodity, the nation’s industries have started to rebound. |
| He said the nation’s currencyy reserves stand at $364 billion and a capital outflow has slowed. | He said the nation’s currencyy reserves stand at $364 billion and a capital outflow has slowed. |
| 9.17am GMT09:17 | 9.17am GMT09:17 |
| He’s still going.... the gist is: economic forecasts will have to be reviewed due to falling oil prices. But Russia’s economy has already turned the corner. | He’s still going.... the gist is: economic forecasts will have to be reviewed due to falling oil prices. But Russia’s economy has already turned the corner. |
| First question gets a 10-minute answer about the economy, which is still going. It's not exactly Paxman out here. | First question gets a 10-minute answer about the economy, which is still going. It's not exactly Paxman out here. |
| Updated at 9.19am GMT | Updated at 9.19am GMT |
| 9.17am GMT09:17 | 9.17am GMT09:17 |
| Putin is coughing a lot. It’s cold in Moscow this time of year. | Putin is coughing a lot. It’s cold in Moscow this time of year. |
| He says Russia has passed the peak of the economic crisis. Uses weird anecdote about life not always being black and white. | He says Russia has passed the peak of the economic crisis. Uses weird anecdote about life not always being black and white. |
| Putin starts with anecdote: What looked black last year now looks white. Even $50/barrel of oil now looks optimistic pic.twitter.com/6A3h1fkoAh | Putin starts with anecdote: What looked black last year now looks white. Even $50/barrel of oil now looks optimistic pic.twitter.com/6A3h1fkoAh |
| Putin laments that the government has had to recalculate budget twice already and now is even "too optimistic''' factoring in oil at $50 | Putin laments that the government has had to recalculate budget twice already and now is even "too optimistic''' factoring in oil at $50 |
| Putin: Russian economy has passed the peak of the crisis, stabilization under way. | Putin: Russian economy has passed the peak of the crisis, stabilization under way. |
| Updated at 9.19am GMT | Updated at 9.19am GMT |
| 9.09am GMT09:09 | 9.09am GMT09:09 |
| The first question has been about the Russian economy. | The first question has been about the Russian economy. |
| First Q about tough economy situation. Putin tells joke about changing perceptions; says Russian economic predictions were based on $100 oil | First Q about tough economy situation. Putin tells joke about changing perceptions; says Russian economic predictions were based on $100 oil |
| 9.06am GMT09:06 | 9.06am GMT09:06 |
| Putin opened his speech by saying he’s already made all his key points in his address to parliament, but there must be questions that need additional clarification. That’s it, we’re off to questions already. | Putin opened his speech by saying he’s already made all his key points in his address to parliament, but there must be questions that need additional clarification. That’s it, we’re off to questions already. |
| 9.03am GMT09:03 | 9.03am GMT09:03 |
| Waiting for Putin.... it’s tense. | Waiting for Putin.... it’s tense. |
| 8.57am GMT08:57 | 8.57am GMT08:57 |
| The conference hasn’t even started yet and we’re already talking about a bear with an axe. | The conference hasn’t even started yet and we’re already talking about a bear with an axe. |
| Screen currently has flags of Russian regions up, one of which is A BEAR WITH AN AXE. How cool is that? pic.twitter.com/8KkViyJxzQ | Screen currently has flags of Russian regions up, one of which is A BEAR WITH AN AXE. How cool is that? pic.twitter.com/8KkViyJxzQ |
| 8.40am GMT08:40 | 8.40am GMT08:40 |
| Here’s a photo of a fresher faced Putin at his first big press conference in 2001. They say politics can age a man. Thoughts? | Here’s a photo of a fresher faced Putin at his first big press conference in 2001. They say politics can age a man. Thoughts? |
| Photo of Putin at 1st big press conference in 2001. It's got a certain Sovietesque je ne sais quois. @dimsmirnov175 pic.twitter.com/DKzpRYuQEg | Photo of Putin at 1st big press conference in 2001. It's got a certain Sovietesque je ne sais quois. @dimsmirnov175 pic.twitter.com/DKzpRYuQEg |
| An actual legitimate question that a lot of people were asking yesterday was whether Vladimir Putin is immortal? A photograph from 1920 that began circulating showed a Russian soldier who bears an uncanny resemblance to the country’s current leader. Another photo, taken of a Russian soldier in 1941, also looks very much like Putin. Edward Cullen eat your heart out. | An actual legitimate question that a lot of people were asking yesterday was whether Vladimir Putin is immortal? A photograph from 1920 that began circulating showed a Russian soldier who bears an uncanny resemblance to the country’s current leader. Another photo, taken of a Russian soldier in 1941, also looks very much like Putin. Edward Cullen eat your heart out. |
| Conspiracy theorists suggest Vladimir Putin could be immortal https://t.co/ketDN6MP7j pic.twitter.com/DZE8nE2h81 | Conspiracy theorists suggest Vladimir Putin could be immortal https://t.co/ketDN6MP7j pic.twitter.com/DZE8nE2h81 |
| Updated at 8.46am GMT | Updated at 8.46am GMT |
| 8.35am GMT08:35 | 8.35am GMT08:35 |
| Welcome to our live coverage of Vladimir Putin’s annual press conference. It will be the 11th press conference Putin will have with Russian and international journalists during the three terms he has been head of state. These events have been known to go on for hours. Given that you could say there’s quite a lot for him to talk about this year, best get yourself settled in a comfy seat with a cup of your favourite brew. | Welcome to our live coverage of Vladimir Putin’s annual press conference. It will be the 11th press conference Putin will have with Russian and international journalists during the three terms he has been head of state. These events have been known to go on for hours. Given that you could say there’s quite a lot for him to talk about this year, best get yourself settled in a comfy seat with a cup of your favourite brew. |
| Almost 1,400 journalists have received accreditation for this year’s event, according to the Kremlin website. Our Moscow correspondent Shaun Walker will be filing and tweeting from the scene throughout the morning. Here is his introduction: | Almost 1,400 journalists have received accreditation for this year’s event, according to the Kremlin website. Our Moscow correspondent Shaun Walker will be filing and tweeting from the scene throughout the morning. Here is his introduction: |
| I’m in the hall waiting for the press conference to start, it’s a huge venue and there are 1400 journalists accredited this year, making it pretty hard to actually get a question in. everyone from world media to the smallest local Russian publication is here. | I’m in the hall waiting for the press conference to start, it’s a huge venue and there are 1400 journalists accredited this year, making it pretty hard to actually get a question in. everyone from world media to the smallest local Russian publication is here. |
| The usual drill is that Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov will ask some selected journalists for the first hour and a half, a mix of Russian state outlets and a few more independent or foreign journalists, who will ask questions loosely agreed in advance. After that, Putin tends to go for a pick and mix approach, calling on those who take his fancy. Many regional journalists have made signs or brought props to try to catch the leader’s attention. | The usual drill is that Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov will ask some selected journalists for the first hour and a half, a mix of Russian state outlets and a few more independent or foreign journalists, who will ask questions loosely agreed in advance. After that, Putin tends to go for a pick and mix approach, calling on those who take his fancy. Many regional journalists have made signs or brought props to try to catch the leader’s attention. |
| The format is advantageous to Putin – he does normally take a few awkward questions, but the format allows for no follow-up or cross examination, so he can usually bat any tricky questions away with little effort. He normally gives the impression of enjoying the session and in previous years has gone for nearly five hours without a break, though last year’s session was more modest, ending shortly after the allotted three hour mark. | The format is advantageous to Putin – he does normally take a few awkward questions, but the format allows for no follow-up or cross examination, so he can usually bat any tricky questions away with little effort. He normally gives the impression of enjoying the session and in previous years has gone for nearly five hours without a break, though last year’s session was more modest, ending shortly after the allotted three hour mark. |
| The questions are likely to range over a wide range of issues, from the economy and local issues to the war in Syria. In previous years Putin has been asked to intervene in the building of a local kindergarten and asked how he manages to look so good. | The questions are likely to range over a wide range of issues, from the economy and local issues to the war in Syria. In previous years Putin has been asked to intervene in the building of a local kindergarten and asked how he manages to look so good. |
| It will be interesting to see whether Putin takes a question on the extraordinary allegations aired recently by anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny over the business and criminal links of the family of Russia’s prosecutor general. Sitting two rows in front of me is Georgy Alburov, who works for Navalny’s foundation and has somehow managed to get accredited. | It will be interesting to see whether Putin takes a question on the extraordinary allegations aired recently by anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny over the business and criminal links of the family of Russia’s prosecutor general. Sitting two rows in front of me is Georgy Alburov, who works for Navalny’s foundation and has somehow managed to get accredited. |
| Updated at 8.45am GMT | Updated at 8.45am GMT |