The conversation about the defense industry continued a bit later, during the meeting between Vladimir Putin and the Russian news agencies and print media. They asked the president if a crisis similar to the Cuban one is possible.
Vladimir Putin: "There's no reason for that. There aren't any prerequisites for escalating the modern international situation so much. Is there a strong opposition between the two systems today, as there was back during the Cold War? No, there isn't. Yes, we do have mutual pretenses, different approaches to solving various problems, mutual pretenses, in general. Nevertheless, that's not a reason to escalate it to the level of the Cuban crisis of 1961. I don't think it is. At least, we don't want it. If someone wants it, then they're welcome. Today, I said what one would get for that".
Another question regarded the bill on the autonomous Russian internet. Putin noted that Russia could be cut off the global internet, theoretically. The country must be ready for that. However, Moscow has no intention to isolate the Russian internet on its own. We're not going to cut ourselves off.
Vladimir Putin: "Only if they think it up. But the damage would be very extensive for them, not to say colossal, in all spheres: special services, the economy, and politics. But we should consider that this is theoretically possible and be ready for that. I mean, get ready. I think that the more sovereign we are, even in the digital sphere, the better".
