The G20 summit ended in Japan. Less than half an hour ago, Vladimir Putin held a press conference. He summed up the results of those two days. We'll learn from our correspondent in Japan, Stas Natanzon, about what broad statements the Russian President made.
- Hello, Stas! What did Vladimir Putin highlight as the main outcomes of the summit? Did the countries with the leading economies in the world manage to really agree on anything?
- Well, Vladimir Putin was asked many questions. Actually, his answers depended on the questions.
First of all, he was asked about the negotiations with Donald Trump. Of course, the meeting, that was held yesterday, received lots of attention. It caused quite a stir. Vladimir Putin called the meeting generally positive. Let's listen to that.
Vladimir Putin: "As to the START III Treaty, we tasked the foreign ministries with this. For our part, this is Mr. Lavrov, for the U.S., this is Mr. Pompeo. We tasked them to start consultations on these issues. I don't know yet if these consultations will lead to the renewal of the START III Treaty, it's too soon to say. But we discussed this. We also discussed the entire list of issues, which we were both interested in. By the way, it included our economic relations. We admitted that they're in unsatisfactory condition. We saw the interest of American business in the development of trade and economic ties with Russia again. Of course, we discussed situations in different parts of the world. All in all, these were useful consultations".
So, Donald Trump, who was simultaneously holding his own press conference, also confirmed that he discussed the issue of nuclear weapons control with Vladimir Putin. And he said that it's an important issue. "It makes sense," said Donald Trump.
Vladimir Putin was asked if the issue of the Ukrainian sailors was discussed at the meeting. Let me remind you that the previous negotiations between the presidents of Russia and the U.S. didn't take place just because literally a few hours before they were to begin, Donald Trump stated that he won't meet with Vladimir Putin until the issue with the Ukrainian sailors arrested at the Crimean Bridge is resolved. As we see, the meeting still took place. Vladimir Putin confirmed that the issue of the Ukrainian sailors was raised at the meeting. Donald Trump raised it. A bit later, Vladimir Putin explained that there's progress in that direction but those sailors still made a provocation. A trial should take place first in Russia. Then, an exchange can be negotiated. Let's listen.
Vladimir Putin: "As far as I remember, the newly appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian army already confirmed that it was a provocation organized by Poroshenko as a part of his election campaign. It's disgraceful. It's an outrage. Let's keep that in mind. If so, then, in fact, Ukraine admitted that it was a provocation. We'll solve this issue in a quiet routine manner. We have questions about some people detained in Ukraine. Besides those sailors, they simply fulfilled the order. That's it. We realize that. But they violated Russian laws. So, we should deal with that quietly, in a routine manner. Exchanges are in process. Not long ago, I was told that through the mediation of Mr. Medvedchuk, four people were released in the LPR and the DPR. This is a good example of the work, direct contact with those, with whom it's necessary to conduct dialogue. The result is obvious. If the current authorities organize their work like this in this direction, of course, we'll be able to achieve a lot".
We hope so. There was a question about the meeting with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May. Look, today, Vladimir Putin is on the front page of the Financial Times again. This time, he's featured with Theresa May. And the expression of the British Prime Minister shows a lot. Before the meeting, there weren't any comments of the leaders about what will be discussed. After the meeting, Downing Street, that is, the office of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, stated that Theresa May told Vladimir Putin that London won't talk to Moscow until Moscow ceases its aggressive actions against Great Britain and its allies. Vladimir Putin was asked if Theresa May really suggested such conditions for further negotiations. Let's listen.
Vladimir Putin: "We didn't have intentions to make any aggressive actions against anyone. That's an illusion. That's a desire to mistake a wish for reality. Their wish is to have some external enemy, the presence of which allows to solve domestic issues. We don't have any aggressive intentions towards anyone. I've already said and I can confirm it that the Prime Minister behaved the same at our meeting, as she stated publicly. She stated her position pretty firmly. Yes, that's true. I told her the position of Russia on the number of issues, which are irritants in our relations. I'd like to draw your attention to the fact that our actions with respect to our partners will always be tit-for-tat. We'll treat everyone in the way they treat us. I want everyone to remember that".
Vladimir Putin was asked about yesterday's Financial Times issue where his interview was published. This interview caused quite a stir at the G20 summit. Not only journalists but even participants in the summit, top officials of states, and international organizations commented on it. In that interview, among other things, Vladimir Putin talked about the crisis that liberal ideas face in the world. The Russian President was asked if he discussed this article with those whom he met at the summit. He said that he did.
Vladimir Putin was also asked, in connection with the discussion of liberalism, if Russia is liberal enough. After all, they "oppress" gay people in Russia. Elton John even wrote about it, thus arguing with the Russian President in absentia. Here's what Vladimir Putin answered to this, and to Elton John as well.
Vladimir Putin: "You remembered Elton John. I respect him a lot, he's a brilliant musician. He visits our country, we listen to his music with pleasure. I think that he's way off the mark. I didn't distort anything. We have a calm attitude to the representatives of the LGBT community. Really, it's absolutely calm, without any bias at all. We have a law, because of which everyone scolds us. It's the law on the ban homosexual propaganda among the children. Look. Let's allow a person to grow up, become an adult, and then decide who he or she is. Leave children alone. There are so many things now. I also mentioned in that interview that they devised five or six genders. Transformers, transgenders... I don't understand what this is. I wish everyone to be healthy. But the problem is that a part of society is imposing its point of view in a pretty aggressive manner to the vast majority. We should be more loyal to each other".
Vladimir Putin was also asked about the restoration of the Normandy format, and the solution for the Syrian situation, and domestic issues, such as the case of Ivan Golunov, the journalist who was arrested because drugs were apparently planted on him. It's being investigated now. The circumstances of that incident are being investigated. Vladimir Putin called this as an example of "abuse of power." In addition to it, he promised to take a look at the case of Sergey Petrov, an entrepreneur. Not long ago, a criminal case was opened against him. It happened while Vladimir Putin was in Osaka, Japan.
Overall, the press conference following this G20 summit was pretty substantial.
- Stas, thank you very much. This was a live report from Osaka. The G20 summit of the world's leading economies ended there today. Our Stas Natanzon watched all of it.
