Vladimir Putin at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum – 2024. Photo: Sofya Sandurskaya/TASS
Part 1. Vladimir Putin – on the development of the Far East.
Part 2. Vladimir Putin – on the progress of the SVO.
As is often the case at major forums, after the president’s opening speech on the main topic, a question-and-answer session begins, where Vladimir Putin can be asked anything. The same thing happened at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum. We have collected the most interesting answers of the head of the country to the topic of the day.
WE HAD NO CLAIM AGAINST DUROV
– If he had any desire, he could meet me in Moscow. I don’t know anything about this. Yes, I proceeded from the fact that, in my opinion, he lives in Moscow. I don’t know where he moves there. (The presenter clarified that the businessman lives in Dubai – Ed.) Well, in Dubai they are people of the world, they are billionaires and can afford to travel anywhere. We have not had any complaints about him. I know that there have been complaints from many countries. I think that the Russian government might also have some questions about this, but all platforms of this kind are guilty of this. The actions of the French authorities are not very clear to me, as they are selective,” said Vladimir Vladimirovich.
At the same time, he added that he did not meet with the Russian businessman during his recent visit to Baku.
MOSCOW SUPPORTS KAMALA HARRIS
Putin has traditionally been asked who the Kremlin is supporting in the upcoming US presidential election.
“I said that our favorite was, so to speak, the current president, Mr. Biden,” Vladimir Vladimirovich replied. – He was removed from the race, but he recommended that all his supporters support Ms. Harris. Then we will do the same, we will support her. This is the first thing. And secondly, she laughs so expressively and contagiously that it means that everything is fine with her. And if everything goes well for her, then Trump has introduced as many restrictions and sanctions against Russia as no president has ever imposed before. And if Ms. Harris does well, then perhaps she will refrain from such actions.
Vice President of the United States, presidential candidate in the upcoming elections for the Democratic Party Kamala Harris.
Photo: REUTERS.
Negotiations with Kyiv
Moscow is still ready to receive them. But there is one precondition.
– Are we ready to negotiate with them? We have never given up on this, the president stressed. – But not on the basis of ephemeral demands, but on the basis of the documents agreed and signed in Istanbul.
END OF PREFERENTIAL MORTGAGE
The president assured that the rejection of preferential rates on housing loans will not cause the collapse of the Russian real estate market.
– Due to the fact that the preferential mortgage has ended, of course, this cannot but affect the housing construction market. But, I repeat, it is now supported by preferential mortgages from the Far East, the Arctic, household mortgages, preferential IT mortgages,” the head of the country said.
GAS TRANSIT THROUGH UKRAINE
Putin said gas transit to Europe could slow down if Ukraine refuses to pump blue fuel through its territory.
– But Ukraine is refusing our transit, which means that the volumes of gas flowing to Europe will decrease. They will go to Turkey via other routes, in particular via the Turkish stream, perhaps partly via the Blue Stream, the president said.
The president noted that gas transit to Europe could slow down if Ukraine refuses to pump gas through its territory.
Photo: REUTERS.
At the same time, the Russian leader admitted that he does not understand why Germany refuses to launch the rest of the Nord Stream.
– I just don’t understand it. They took and blew up this gas pipeline along the bottom of the Baltic Sea – Nord Stream. Both Nord Stream lines and one Nord Stream 2 line were blown up. By the way, one exists, it is working, what prevents the German government itself from pressing the button, reaching an agreement with us and turning it on? – Vladimir Vladimirovich wondered.
– Why don’t they do this? I don’t understand. They can receive it through the territory of Ukraine, they can receive it through the Turkish Current, but they can’t receive it through the line that runs along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. In my opinion, this is some kind of professional deformation. Schizophrenia is nonsense,” he added.
INFLATION IS DECREASING
The president noted that inflation recently exceeded 9% annually (with the target of 4%), but is now declining.
– Not everything can be good: in Malaysia there is 2% inflation, in our country, unfortunately, it is higher. <...> We have a target figure of around 4%, and recently it reached over nine percent: 9.2%. It is true that it is now trending downwards, already less than 9%, <...> and that is good,” Putin said.
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