And now, we can hear Vladimir Putin comment on today's Direct Line. We have a live broadcast of his press conference.
Vladimir Putin: Regarding the resolution of the issue of Donbass, I've addressed it repeatedly, including during the Direct Line, but I can say it again. Without direct dialogue and the Ukrainian authorities respecting the Minsk Agreements, this issue can't be resolved efficiently. Now, speaking of passports, we continue to offer the Russian citizenship. People wait in lines to receive it, we'll be offering it to everyone willing to get it. Regarding other citizens of Ukraine who'd like to receive citizenship, I've said it before, we'll be working on improving the simplified procedures for citizenship acquisition.
- What will be Russia's reaction to the increased number of attacks? It looks like Russia's not doing anything.
Vladimir Putin: We're deeply concerned. It's not about our weakness or strength, it's about giving the new Ukrainian government a chance to enter a trajectory leading towards the resolution of the problem, instead of a new escalation. Please?
- Don't you think it's time Russia admitted being responsible for the crash of the Malaysian Boeing, for shooting down Flight MH17? Besides, Mr. President, this year, we'll celebrate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the beginning of the collapse of Moscow's sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. It was followed by the collapse of the superpower, the USSR. Do you think Russia's become a superpower again 30 years later?
Vladimir Putin: First, the Boeing. Russia has never evaded responsibility if it's actually responsible. We don't find the presented evidence of Russia's guilt to be sufficient. We believe that they have no evidence. What they presented proves nothing. We've got our own theory, which we've presented. Unfortunately, nobody listens to us. Until there's a real dialogue, we won't find the correct answers to the questions that still remain unanswered regarding the plane crash and the deaths of the people. We mourn those people and believe that such incidents are unacceptable. There's this thing we've repeatedly pointed out: Who issued permission to fly over the war zone? Was it Russia? No. And what about the fighter jets? And where's the absolute proof that the rebels were the ones who shot it down? There are a lot of questions that they choose not to answer, you see. They just pointed fingers once and for all and that's it. We don't find this investigation method to be appropriate.
Now, regarding the collapse of the Berlin Wall followed by the collapse of the Soviet Union and Russia being a superpower, we don't strive for that status. We don't. Because this notion implies that certain elements associated with imposing your influence over other states and whole regions. We don't want to return to the situation when the Soviet Union was imposing its way of life, political system, and so on upon its neighbors, including Eastern Europe. This approach is counter-productive, too costly, and has no future. It has no historic future. You can't impose your living patterns on other people. But it seems that the bad experience of the Soviet Union is neglected by some of our Western partners. They're repeating the same mistakes, fall into the same trap. That's because they are empires and structure their policy in an imperial way. You please.
- Our reporters have registered at least three deaths of Russian soldiers in Syria that the Defense Ministry hasn't announced yet since the beginning of the year. Sorry for reading, I'm just nervous.
Vladimir Putin: That's okay, relax.
- Since the beginning of the war in Syria, Russia also hasn't recognized the deaths of the mercenaries of a private military company associated with Evgeny Prigozhin. Last year, our reporters met with the families of several Russia citizens who died there. Their friends and families insist on awarding them the status of combat veteran, at least posthumously. Could you tell us, Mr. Putin, why is it so hard to honor and recognize the people who were defending the interests of their state?
Vladimir Putin: “Look, regarding the private companies, the private security companies, under the auspices of which the people you've mentioned fight there, indeed, they are present in Syria. They don't represent the Russian state. They aren't combat veterans, be it for better or worse. Anyway, they have an economic interest in the region, associated with economic activities, oil extraction and exploration, and so on. That's what it's all about. Of course, we are aware that working on these material objectives, as we used to call them, people risk their lives. They make their contribution to the fight against terrorism. It's also a contribution because they seize those deposits from ISIS. But they don't represent the Russian state or army. That's why we can't comment on that.
- The final question, please. Our colleague is in prison. Kirill Vyshinsky has spent a year behind bars in Ukraine. Given that your meeting with Vladimir Zelensky seems to be postponed indefinitely, is there a way to free Kirill before your meeting by exchanging him for Oleg Sentsov, the sailors, anybody, let them have whomever they want, but Kirill and, well, they will be able to enjoy this summer as free men.
Vladimir Putin: We're considering that. We haven't forgotten. Give her the microphone, please.
- Jiji Press News Agency, Japan. Soon, you'll fly to Japan to meet your friend, as you call him, Shinzo Abe. What do you personally expect of this visit? Apart from the meeting, you'll get to attend a series of events, including the closing ceremony of the Russia-Japan Year. Should we expect some surprises like a friendly round of judo or a hot springs visit?
Vladimir Putin: Well, those aren't the most important surprises in terms of interstate relations, a friendly round of judo or a hot springs visit. But these things are still interesting and important, they create a certain atmosphere. What I expect of this meeting is the continuation of our dialogue. I'm sure that like the rest of us, Shinzo wants to get our relationship in order and sign a peace treaty. It would seem we're pretty close. But we often get issues that delay the settlement of the matter. There's one thing that's obvious, I've said it repeatedly, both Japan, represented by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Russia want to finally normalize our relations. The people of both Japan and Russia are interested in that. We'll try to achieve that. Thank you very much. Guys, this press conference can't last forever. Thank you.
