Vladimir Putin quotes

Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer, serving as the President of Russia. His leadership has greatly influenced Russia's domestic policies and international relations in the 21st century. He remains a prominent and controversial figure in world politics. Here are 166 of his quotes:

Even 50 years ago, the streets of Leningrad taught me one thing: if a fight is inevitable, go and fight first.

Vladimir Putin

Berlusconi is being tried because he lives with women. If he was homosexual, no one would have lifted a finger against him.

Vladimir Putin

The democratic choice Russian people made in the early 90's is final.

Vladimir Putin

We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy that they have in Iraq, quite honestly.

Vladimir Putin

Russia doesn't negotiate with terrorists. It destroys them.

Vladimir Putin

It's difficult to talk to people who whisper even at home, afraid of Americans eavesdropping on them. It's not a figure of speech, not a joke, I'm serious.

Vladimir Putin

Russia does not want confrontation of any kind. And we will not take part in any kind of "holy alliance."

Vladimir Putin

They act as they please: here and there, they use force against sovereign states, building coalitions based on the principle 'If you are not with us, you are against us.' To make this aggression look legitimate, they force the necessary resolutions from international organizations, and if for some reason this does not work, they simply ignore the UN Security Council and the UN overall.

Vladimir Putin

You don't understand, George, that Ukraine is not even a state. What is Ukraine? Part of its territories is Eastern Europe, but the greater part is a gift from us.

Vladimir Putin

Whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart. Whoever wants it back has no brain.

Vladimir Putin

I have worked like a galley slave throughout these eight years, morning till night, and I have given all I could to this work. I am happy with the results.

Vladimir Putin

I see that not everyone in the West has understood that the Soviet Union has disappeared from the political map of the world and that a new country has emerged with new humanist and ideological principles at the foundation of its existence.

Vladimir Putin

Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal affairs.

Vladimir Putin

Russia does not have in its possession any trustworthy data that supports the existence of nuclear weapons or any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and we have not received any such information from our partners as yet.

Vladimir Putin

I stress that we unambiguously support strengthening the non-proliferation regime, without any exceptions, on the basis of international law.

Vladimir Putin

I bow my head to the victims of terrorism. I am highly impressed of the courage of New York residents. The great city and the great American nation are to win!

Vladimir Putin

Russia must realise its full potential in high-tech sectors such as modern energy technology, transport and communications, space and aircraft building.

Vladimir Putin

We still have a great amount of work to do in social development, including resolving one of the biggest challenges we face in this area, namely, reducing the gap between high-income earners and people, citizens of our country, who are still living on very modest means indeed. But we cannot, of course, adopt the solution used 80 years ago and simply confiscate the riches of some to redistribute among others. We will use completely different means to resolve this problem, namely, we will ensure good economic growth.

Vladimir Putin

There is no such thing as a former KGB man.

Vladimir Putin

Syria is already in the grips of a civil war, unfortunately enough, and Egypt is moving in that direction. We would like to see the Egyptian people avoid this fate.

Vladimir Putin

Comrade wolf knows who to eat. He eats without listening to anybody and it seems he is not ever going to listen.

Vladimir Putin

You can do a lot more with weapons and politeness than just politeness.

Vladimir Putin