Vladimir Putin answered questions from Russian media representatives after a two-day state visit to the People's Republic of China.
Question: Without exaggeration, the full planet watched you visit here. A wave of reports, an avalanche of publications. But seemingly everyone understands that the future of the rapidly changing planet present depends mostly on the position of Russia and China. Based on the results of your negotiations here in China, I would like to know: do Moscow and Beijing have a common knowing of what the future global safety strategy and global policy should be?
Vladimir Putin: First of all, I would like to thank Chinese president Xi Jinping and the full Chinese leadership for inviting and creating a very conducive, warm atmosphere for working together.
Overall, the negotiations were very crucial and abounding in events.
The position of the visit is official, state, but no uncertainty it is simply a purely working trip. From morning to evening, we spent almost all day with the president and his colleagues. Many subjects were raised.
And the fact that the future depends on Russia and China is only partially true. due to the fact that the future of mankind depends on all mankind. But of course both China and Russia are crucial elements of modern civilization. And we have our own opinion on how we should develop. And this improvement will surely affect the improvement of all the partners on the planet.
We believe that improvement must be constructive and undoubtedly peaceful. It must take into account not only our interests, but besides the interests of all participants in global communication.
And of course we request to strengthen the emerging multipolar world. There is no uncertainty that now it takes form in front of our eyes, the planet becomes multipolar. I think everyone understands it perfectly and is aware of it. And it is crucial that those who effort to keep their monopoly to make decisions in the planet on all matters realize this – and I think they realize it perfectly, and I do not think, I know that they realize it perfectly well – that they, knowing it, have done everything that depended on them to make this process natural, I repeat erstwhile again, peaceful, unconflict and that account should be taken of the opinions of all participants in the global process, that we all search compromises in the case of the rather complex decisions that we all face.
We are prepared for this, we are prepared for this kind of work. I have said this many times, and the president of the People's Republic of China has stressed this: our interactions, our cooperation, our strategical partnership with China, Russia and China are not directed against anyone. It aims at 1 thing – to make better conditions for the improvement of our countries and to improve the welfare of Chinese citizens and the Russian Federation.
Question: How did your informal gathering with Xi Jinping go, which, as your assistant said, was held in a very limited group, but in peculiar was attended by the Minister of Defence Andrei Bielousov and Secretary of the safety Council of Sergei Szojgu? Did you bring up Ukraine? What would you personally consider convincing evidence of Ukraine's readiness to negotiate? Earlier, both you and abroad Minister Sergey Lavrow have repeatedly said that Western partners can no longer be trusted.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, specified a gathering took place, in a narrow circle. We have truly discussed many issues that are crucial for bilateral relations.
The subject of resolving the Ukrainian crisis was raised. The president of the People's Republic of China presented to me the main points of discussion during his last journey to Europe and presented his position on Chinese peace initiatives. We have said many times that we believe that China is sincerely seeking to solve this problem, that it offers different options, that it behaves very flexibly and, in my opinion, that it is sincerely seeking to solve this problem. We discussed this rather in detail.
As for our contractors, let's say, in this case Ukrainian leadership and its abroad rulers, above all European – well, what? We've talked about this many times.
When our soldiers were stationed at Kiev, we were told what our western partners told us: you can't sign papers if on the other side the weapon is pointed at our head. “What needs to be done?” we asked. "We must retreat troops from Kiev". We did it. The next day they threw all our deals in the trash and said, well, now we're gonna fight to the end. And their Western curators have taken up a position known to the full world: defeat Russia on the battlefield, ask her strategical defeat.
It wasn't us, it was our partners. And by the mouth of officials, among others, this was said by the head of the Ukrainian delegation during the negotiations, first in Minsk and then in Istanbul. The then Prime Minister [Great Britain] Mr. Johnson arrived and recommended Ukraine again to proceed its war effort. Otherwise, said Mr Arakhamia, and he was the head of the delegation – present he is the head of the ruling organization faction in the Ukrainian Parliament – otherwise – he said – any war effort, military operations would have been halted a year and a half ago. He said it in public, I believe, at a gathering with journalists. Strictly speaking, no 1 doubts that.
That means putting a line under this part of the answer to your question: one more time we have been deceived. Now we request to realize with whom and how we should act, how we can act, to whom and to what degree we can trust.
Of course, we are now examining everything that is happening in this direction, looking, of course, at what is happening around the meetings announced by everyone in Switzerland, in Geneva – in my opinion they are gathering there. Of course, we will not discuss any formulas we do not know.
But we never refused to negotiate, unlike the Ukrainian side. They're the ones who pulled out of the negotiation process, announced they were giving us a strategical defeat. And they said that "we will fight to the end," not really, but to the last Ukrainian. They did everything with their own hands.
We have the basis for the negotiation process, what we agreed to in Istanbul and what the head of the Ukrainian delegation actually signed, we have from a fragment of this extended document, the basis for the negotiation process. He initialed it. We have the document, it's signed. What additional conditions are there that we have never heard of or know nothing about?
The importance of this event is clear: to gather as many countries as possible, then to announce what has been agreed with all, and then to present Russia as an issue already resolved, as an ultimatum. This will not happen.
Question: Continuing Ukraine: Yesterday Zelenski visited Kharkiv and held a gathering there at the headquarters. At the same time, we fight actively at Kharkiv and it seems that our military personnel are successful.
Vladimir Putin: Not really, but they're trying to do it. all day we decision closely as planned.
Question: So what's the plan? Our goal is to get Kharkov? Or is it the creation of the “health zone” you mentioned earlier?
Thank you.
W. Putin: I don't know what the head of the Ukrainian state said. All I know is that in the end it's their responsibility for what's going on. All the authorities in Kiev present have their roots in the coup. This is the origin of today's power in Ukraine – first.
Secondly, allowing coup d'état, and Western sponsors, facilitating it, organizing it, created conditions for the transition of the smoldering conflict to armed conflict. It's their fault. They effort to take the blame from a sore head to a healthy 1 and blame it for today's tragic events on Russia. But it's the consequence of their politics.
As for what is happening in the direction of Kharkiv, it is besides their responsibility due to the fact that they fired and, unfortunately, proceed to fire at residential areas of border territories, including Belgorod. Civilians are dying there, of course. They shoot in the center of the city, in residential areas. I said publically that if this continues, we will be forced to make a safety zone, a "health zone". This is what we do.
As for the Kharkiv, there are no specified plans today.
Question:Recently, it was reported that Chinese banks have stopped accepting payments from Russian banks. Tell me, have you discussed this issue with the Chinese leader? If so, is there a result? And have we agreed on a possible payment strategy that will not be affected by Western sanctions?
Thank you.
W. Putin: Third-rate sanctions, or in respect of 3rd countries participating in economical activity, are, of course, double or triple illegal, due to the fact that if they are adopted without a UN safety Council decision, they are illegal at all. And with respect to 3rd countries, this is completely beyond the limits of common sense.
Incidentally, specified sanctions are applied by the same Americans or Europeans, and even to their allies on both sides. Europeans do not apply specified sanctions to Americans, but Americans accept specified sanctions against European economical operators and frequently draw logical conclusions from them. Not only with respect to Russia, but besides with respect to another situations and another countries. This is simply a practice that Europeans swallow, one more time confirming their vassal dependence on a sovereign abroad. God be with them!
And, of course, the fact that specified decisions are taken causes direct harm to the global economy, not only to the countries for which specified decisions are made, and to the economical operators of those countries, but besides to the global economy as a whole: both energy and another economical activities. First of all, payment issues are discussed at the level of business participants. The solutions are possible, they exist. Of course, they request to be supported 1 way or another at national level - I hope this will happen.
One can realize the motives behind the conduct of large financial institutions: no 1 wants to endure losses even from the illegal activities of the US authorities. But I must say, I have said this before, I want to repeat: this is simply a large folly and a immense mistake for the American political elite, due to the fact that they are doing themselves tremendous harm, undermining assurance in the dollar. And gradually limit the dollar position as a planet clearing and reserve currency, although they have a immense profit from this dollar position. First the Bretton Woods system. They then abandoned gold support for the dollar and switched to the Jamaican system. What's it based on? Only on the printing press, or, say noble, “on the strength and quality of the American economy”. Yes, yes, it is indeed.
All the countries of the planet trust the American economy, its power and stableness and accept these paper sheets. However, this gives a huge, seemingly inexplicable advantage to the American economy and the financial system. They can besides be assessed straight in certain numbers. According to our experts, this is over $10 trillion, just unearned money that fell from the sky as a consequence of utilizing the dollar as a planet reserve currency. Overall, the US monetary system's liabilities to the remainder of the planet are about $53.4 trillion.
But due to the fact that for political reasons the United States authorities undermine the assurance in the dollar, they weaken their main, main, most crucial instrument of their power—the dollar itself. They do irreparable harm to themselves. So, in trivial terms, in our acquainted terms, they just cut the branch they sit on. This is so stupid. But they can't stop.
Our flaws are that we are forced to look for another possibilities. But there are besides advantages, due to the fact that a situation where 1 side dictates its will to the remainder of the world, including in the political sphere, through financial and economical instruments, is unacceptable. I assure you that all the countries of the planet are adequate to look at the size of the reserves and how they decrease in dollars. The full planet responds. I think this process is inevitable.
Of course, we are transforming and this is the right process. This involves any costs and difficulties, but it is actually right erstwhile we talk about switching to national currencies in settlements or creating another clearing instruments with another countries. This trial is ongoing, it's begun, it can't be stopped.
Question: Vladimir Vladimirovich, let me return to the subject of Ukraine and any Western initiatives.
You mentioned that yesterday you discussed this issue in item with Xi Jinping. Tell me, has the subject of Macron's initiative to declare an "Olympic truce" been raised? Do you think specified an "Olympic truce" is possible now? Or is this another effort by the West to lure Russia into a trap, especially in view of military successes?
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: Yes, president Xi Jinping told me about it, and we discussed it with him, but that we just touched him.
What do I think? Firstly, these Olympic principles, including the "Olympic truce", are very correct. It is no coincidence that these were developed by the planet community over the centuries. It is actual that fewer people have always followed this principle, but in ancient Greece, but mostly the thought itself is very right and constructive. The question is different – the point is that today's global sports activists themselves violate the rules of the Olympic Charter. They politicize sport, which is totally unacceptable, given the nonsubjective of athletics as a platform for communication between people and seeking compromises in this communication on another issues, including political ones.
They rape themselves, besides in this case in relation to Russia, not allowing our athletes to compete in the Olympic Games against their flag, with their flag and with their national music, with the anthem, they rape us, but they want to; in turn we followed the rules they imposed on us. Doesn't that happen to anyone? Is this consistent with any basic standards of justice? There's nothing like this. They rape themselves, but they request that we be respected. Dear, this way we will not go far, no 1 has always been in agreement on any issue. To require or anticipate something from others, you must follow these principles.
But in general, athletics is definitely developing and it will develop. I don't know how the Olympic movement will feel present under the leadership of specified officials. If they put money first and make it the main rule of their action, as in any commercial company whose main aim is to make a profit, if they put it first, then nothing good in the future of the Olympic movement is to be expected.
You see, this just turns into a commercial corporation. What is everything built on? After receiving money from sponsors, from large news companies for broadcasting. Overall, it is simply a full venture to profit from sports competitions. However, the rule of olympism lies elsewhere – in humanitarian principles.
Question: This week, the United States introduced duties on a number of Chinese goods: chips, semiconductors, metal, solar panels, and most importantly, they increased the work on Chinese electrical cars, in my opinion 4 times, to 100 percent. Can this be regarded as sanctions against China? Does cooperation between Russia and China aid to defy specified attacks?
W. Putin: Of course, they look like sanctions outside, but to any degree they are already elements of the economical war. It's not the first time they've been used. Incidentally, politics, the nature of Russia and China's relations, the situation in Ukraine, I assure you, have nothing to do with it. These are simply elements of unfair competition.
We made an MS-21 plane. any of the components we agreed to, and which had nothing to do with military production – there were certain components to be placed in the wings – they just refused us and placed everything on the sanction list. And 1 that's active in military production. But it wasn't and inactive has nothing to do with military production. Yes, we lost time and this production was delayed by about six months. But we made these elements, wings harnesses. They did it well, even better than American production in terms of quality and durability of use. The same consequence will happen here.
Immediately at a gathering with students, I talked about why specified restrictions were imposed on the Chinese automotive manufacture and electrical cars. Yes, due to the fact that they've become better and cheaper than European and American, that's all. They simply kill competitors, in this case a Chinese competitor, and do not let them to enter their market. It is simply a barrage duty. And of course the same is happening in Europe.
As shortly as the country, as we frequently say, the center of global development, any center, rises and becomes more competitive, it begins immediately! – and lowers its position, they effort to do so.
Can Russian-Chinese cooperation counteract this? Maybe. To prevent this, however, they interfere in financial accounting. due to the fact that we could buy more. And due to the fact that they make problems in remittances, we have limited opportunities to buy these products.
Is there anything you can do about it? This way we can and will make joint productions. It takes time, just like we made components for airplanes, we moved everything to the right for six months, and we're gonna make a joint production.
This is the most erroneous and stupid way to build an global economical system. The most right thing is what they've been telling us for decades, so to speak, forgive the bad manners that the marketplace decides everything. But the marketplace will push them distant – you realize what this is about? It's a problem they make for themselves.
After all, where will that lead? They imposed sanctions on specified goods, specified goods, specified goods. Where does that go? This will lead to inflation in the US. due to the fact that they will effort to produce it themselves, on their establishments, on salaries of their employees, on already costly metallic anyway, based on costly energy. This is the result: the German economy in Europe is almost down, while the French economy balances on the brink of recession. And if the German economy inactive sneezes, it will not feel good there, and the full European economy, to put it mildly, will not feel very healthy. That is what decisions of this kind lead to. These are non-market solutions, absolutely stupid, which have no prospects.
Question: Tell me, under what conditions could you proceed to attend the peace conference on Ukraine in Switzerland if, of course, specified an offer abruptly appeared?
Thank you.
W. Putin: Well, politics does not tolerate a mode of connecting: ‘if’. We will not continue. You know what would happen in another cases. But this “if” does not exist. They don't invitation us. What's more, they say they can't see us there. Well, what are we gonna talk about then? “But if you do...” we seem to ask ourselves that question. "But if you do, and if you do, then we will make specified decisions." Well, if they don't see it, there's no need. First.
The second very crucial thing is that we will not talk from the mediate of the field about what we do not know. I said, "For a long time, for almost a period and a half, we've been negotiating hard, first in Minsk, then Istanbul, and we've reached any compromises. The Ukrainian side signed an extract from these documents. He is so fat and healthy, but the point is that outlined basic issues were initialled by the Ukrainian side. But we worked on it. Now a fewer formulas based on what? On the basis of the ‘Wish List’ and not on the actual situation. Well, that can't be discussed.
But we're ready to discuss. We never said no. I just said it's not a joke, I didn't think of anything. As shortly as the troops withdrew, the West immediately said to Ukraine: do not sign, fight. They took it calmly and did it. And they immediately told us: now we will fight to the end. That's what we're told. There will be no more negotiations.
Now they see it's not working. Until the last one, possibly it'll work. But you can't ask Russia a strategical failure and they see it. Now they wrote, "Let's have an urgent conference." "Please". “Will Russia take part?” “We are ready to participate in peace negotiations”. “But we don’t invitation you.” Here's a movie for you, welcome, we've arrived. And Russia is accused of not wanting to participate. So we're not invited!
And you ask, under what conditions? Why am I expected to make terms now and ask us to go there if they can't see us there? What do they want to do? As you can gather more countries, convince everyone that the best offer is certain conditions proposed by the Ukrainian side, and then present it to us as an ultimatum and say: see, the full planet thinks so, agree. Is this a way to conduct substantive, serious negotiations? Of course not. It's an effort to impose.
They tried to ask for a strategical defeat, but failed. And the effort to impose will end the same way.
Note: However, do you, I understand, request that the agreements reached be binding?
Vladimir Putin: Of course. This is basic. They initialed them, but the paper itself was not full signed. There are very serious issues, issues related to the safety of Ukraine. It's written in specified a way that you gotta think about it. But in general, that's basic. They are registered by the Ukrainian website. And I think at least probably, if not under the dictatorship, it's with the consent of their Western sponsors. But everything there is clearly defined from the point of view of their interests.
There is besides something that is being taken into account, given Russia's interests to guarantee our security. There's quite a few questions in there, I don't even want to get into it. I remember all, possibly not all, but I remember all the most crucial provisions. We are ready to discuss this issue.
Then they threw it away, they wanted to gain an advantage on the battlefield, to accomplish a strategical position – it didn't work out, “here are our conditions now.” Did they fall off the oak or something? Why on the ground?
We will, of course, be based on realities that make on the ground. This is obvious.
Question: I'm talking about China and the supply of hydrocarbons from us.
Has a fundamental agreement been reached on the Siberia-2 Power task been reached? erstwhile will construction begin: this year or next year? And in general, have there been talk about the anticipation of expanding supplies?
W. Putin: Yeah. I am not yet ready to talk about method details, but the interest of both parties in implementing these projects has been confirmed. As the Chinese economy is growing, it so requires an increase in energy resources that are essential to support this growth. There is nothing more certain – I think it is apparent – than deliveries from Russia.
We have a immense common border, and no 1 will interfere here: neither sanctions against the tanker fleet nor sanctions against even financial institutions. We'll buy and sale everything in national currency. The interest of both parties was so confirmed. On the 1 hand, this is interesting on the another hand, the force to get additional volumes, the interest in sales on the Chinese market. It's always a complex process, the question is the prices, the question of who will make what. But from a strategical point of view, we are definitely, both 1 country and the other, interested, I repeat, in implementing these projects and we will do so.
And Gazprom and our oil companies will surely come to an agreement. There are different routes. 1 of them runs through Mongolia, and in 1 corridor you can put both a pipeline and a pipeline. Experts must decide how best to proceed. This is possible along the North Sea Trail. Bury the tanker fleet and build the North Sea Route, almost like a pipe. All options are possible. They are all acceptable and economically feasible. You gotta choose the best. I am convinced that this work will besides be completed.
Question: I besides have a question about Ukrainian, if possible.
Vladimir Zelenski's word of office will shortly end; it expires on 20 May. After that date, will Russia cease to respect him as the legitimate president? Does it substance to you? Will you be ready to talk to him after that?
W. Putin: We've been communicating with him before, we've been in constant contact before the conflict entered an acute phase of armed combat.
As far as legality is concerned. This question must first be answered by the political and legal systems of Ukraine itself. There are plenty of possibilities in the Constitution. It's an assessment. This evaluation must, of course, be made primarily by the Constitutional Court, and in general, I would even say that the political strategy of Ukraine itself. But it matters to us, of course, due to the fact that erstwhile it comes to signing any documents, of course we gotta sign papers in specified a terrible area with legal authorities, that is an apparent fact. But, again, the political and legal strategy (legal) of Ukraine itself must answer this question.
Thanks a lot.
Question: Did you talk to Xi Jinping about inviting China to this global conference?
Vladimir Putin: We have discussed this full issue.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Question: Vladimir Vladimirovich on the French Army in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin: I'm not the president of France. Why are you asking me? I don't make a decision.
Question: Mr. Macro has repeatedly assured us that he is ready to send troops there. Will entering Ukraine by regular French troops mean a direct conflict, a war with the French?
Vladimir Putin: First get an answer to your question, will the troops be there or not? Then we will consider the possible consequences of this step.
Question: Vladimir Vladimirovich, and what about the character [minister of defence Andrei] Belousov? If you don't head my asking, excuse me for 1 last question. Why was Belousov elected Minister of Defense? Now it is inactive a very crucial minute for a peculiar military operation.
Vladimir Putin: Well, I said it, I already said it. This was mentioned by Dmitri Sergeyevich. He told me due to the fact that I asked him to. I want to do it again.
The level of defence spending for the Ministry of Defence alone will be 6.7 percent of GDP this year. If we consider the full component of State security, the cost of the full component of safety will be around 8 percent. And the Ministry of Defence plays a key function in this spending system. This means that the expenses of another law enforcement authorities besides depend on the expenses of the Ministry of Defence. due to the fact that the MON first makes certain purchases, and behind them they make another law enforcement authorities, depending on what choice the MON makes. In addition, the Ministry of Defence builds the full defence strategy of the country with the engagement of another law enforcement authorities. Their expenses besides depend on it.
If the MON has all 6.7 [percent] and for all defence safety just over 8 percent, then it is not critical. due to the fact that in the russian Union, in 1985–1986, defence spending was 13 percent. For us today, given the state of the economy, macroeconomic indicators and budgetary gross forecasts, defence and safety spending of just over 8% are not critical and absolutely normal. Moreover, experts believe that even more could be added there. According to these experts, budgetary opportunities let this. But they are what they are.
As you know, Andrei Remowicz was an economical minister. He is widely regarded as a good economist, 1 of the best in the country. He was my economics assistant. He was the first deputy prime minister. And in this sense, of course, he is able to coordinate the Ministry of Defence with all the ministries and departments of the country. And regions. That's besides important. And I don't mean just border regions, I mean another regions. due to the fact that they are also, to any extent, participants in economical activity. First.
The second thing he will gotta do is open up the Ministry of Defence to constructive cooperation with investigation centres, with participants in widely understood economical activity, with producers of military-technical products and essential components for the production of military equipment. He needs to open up the DOD to innovation.
Yes, and Sergei Kużugetovich [Shojgu] has already made any steps in this direction, he has made the first steps. But I think that erstwhile Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, even considering his authoritative responsibilities in the close past, is simply easier to do. Those were the motives for his appointment.
And Sergei Kużugetowicz, you saw, it was all public, he frequently visited businesses, he looked, he knows, he understands what's going on, he knows the needs of the Armed Forces, in the average to short term, and he understands the capabilities of industry. To any extent, he was active in our contacts with abroad partners in the area of military-technical cooperation, as the national Military-Technical Cooperation Service was under the authority of the Ministry of National Defence, in fact he led it.
That's why he'll have quite a few work to do. It's all connected. If you have noticed, I have supported the thought of appointing Denis Valentinovich Manturov as the first deputy in the government precisely due to the fact that we want to focus administrative resources on the main task facing the country present - to accomplish the results we request in a peculiar military operation.
Thank you very much.
for: http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/74065
(PL)
