Putin’s War of Words - NYTimes.com
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Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March, President Vladimir V. Putin has used strong language to inspire nationalist support at home and encourage pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine. Here are 10 recent examples.
‘True Sovereignty for Russia Is Absolutely Necessary for Survival’ - Dec. 4, 2014
In his state of the nation speech, Mr. Putin used the same aggrieved, angry tone he has often adopted in his public pronouncements since the Ukrainian crisis erupted in March. The West reacted to the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine by imposing sanctions, but Mr. Putin said those events were just a pretext.
“This is not just a nervous reaction of the United States and its allies to our position with regards to events and the coup in Ukraine,” he said in his 70-minute speech.
“If all that had not happened, they would have come up with a different mode to restrain Russia,” Mr. Putin said, accusing the West of pursuing the same policy for “decades if not centuries.”
‘If Europe Does Not Want This to Be Realized, Then It Will Not Be Realized’ - Dec. 1
Even in retreat, Mr. Putin tries to take the offensive.
When a Russian project to build a major pipeline to southern Europe was blocked by Bulgaria, he redirected the project toward Turkey and chastised the Bulgarians. The initial deal was caught up in the political and diplomatic quarrel over Ukraine, as Western powers became determined to resist Mr. Putin’s aggressive policies at every turn.
“If Europe does not want this to be realized, then it will not be realized,” he said, calling it “ridiculous” to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the pipeline through Bulgaria only to have to abandon it.
“But such is the decision of our European friends,” he said, adding a jab that Bulgaria, by giving in to pressure, had been “deprived of the opportunity to act as a sovereign state.”
‘You Can Do a Lot More With Weapons and Politeness Than Just Politeness’ -Nov. 17
At an exhibition of armored personnel carriers in Moscow, Mr. Putin observed that “you can do a lot more with weapons and politeness than just politeness,” a reference to the “polite” Russian soldiers who appeared in Crimea in early March.
When Mr. Putin welcomed the new American ambassador and 14 other diplomats to Moscow a few days later, he seemed to soften his tone, saying the two countries could find avenues of practical cooperation if the partnership were based on “mutual respect and pragmatism.”
“We are ready for practical cooperation with our American partners in all different areas, based on the principles of respect for each other’s interests, equality and nonintervention in domestic affairs,” Mr. Putin said. “We take the view that Russia and the United States bear special responsibility for maintaining international security and stability and combating global threats and challenges.”
U.S. Backs ‘Neo-Fascists’ and ‘Islamic Radicals’ -Oct. 24
At an international meeting of Russia experts in the southern resort town of Sochi, Mr. Putin said that American meddling has sparked most of the world’s recent crises, including those in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Instead of supporting democracy and sovereign states, Mr. Putin said the United States supports “dubious” groups ranging from “open neo-fascists to Islamic radicals.”
“Why do they support such people,” he asked at the annual gathering known as the Valdai Club. “They do this because they decide to use them as instruments along the way in achieving their goals, but then burn their fingers and recoil.”
‘All I Have to Do Is Smile’ - Oct. 2
“All I have to do is smile, and show the devil is not as frightening as he seems,” Mr. Putin told reporters after a speech to Russian business leaders, explaining how he can attract investment to Russia.
Appearing relaxed and joking with the financiers who gathered in Moscow for a banking conference, Mr. Putin tried to soothe worries that Russia was headed into a deep recession.
I Could ‘Take Kiev in Two Weeks’ - Sept. 1
Mr. Putin told the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, that he could “take Kiev in two weeks” if he wanted to, adding a new dimension to the conflict in Ukraine as Russian forces became more involved in the fighting there.
‘The Statehood’ of Southeast Ukraine - Aug. 31
As unrest continued, Mr. Putin issued a provocative call to begin discussion of “statehood” for Ukraine’s restive southeast.
“We must immediately begin substantive, meaningful negotiations, not on technical questions, but about the political organization of society and the statehood of Ukraine’s southeast for the unconditional securing of the legal interests of the people who live there,” he said.
In a television interview after his speech, Mr. Putin veered between veiled threats and demands for negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
‘It Is Clear the Militia Has Achieved a Major Success’ - Aug. 29
In an otherwise mundane statement posted on the Kremlin website, Mr. Putin refers to the “Novorossiya” or New Russia, militia, a pointed reference to rebel fighters in Ukraine who represent the broader New Russia favored by Russian nationalists.
“It is clear the militia has achieved a major success in intercepting Kiev’s military operation, which represents a grave danger to the population of Donbass and which has already led to the loss of many lives among peaceful residents,” he said.
Behind the message, analysts saw several Kremlin goals: a political order that weakens Kiev’s control in Ukraine, easing of pressure on increasingly beleaguered rebel forces in Luhansk and Donetsk, and possibly a land route to Crimea.
‘We’ll Strangle All of Them Ourselves!’ - April 17
“We’ll strangle all of them ourselves! Why are you so afraid?” Mr. Putin responded brazenly when asked in a television question-and-answer session in April how Russia might respond to NATO expansion in Eastern Europe. “We aren’t afraid — neither me nor anyone else. Nobody should be afraid, but we must proceed from reality.”
He also reminded viewers that he would authorize the use of force to protect Russian-speaking residents in Ukraine.
“We must do everything to help these people to protect their rights and independently determine their own destiny.”
‘Crimea Has Always Been an Inseparable Part of Russia’ - March 18
Noting that the United States and its NATO allies “have lied to us many times, made decisions behind our backs,” Mr. Putin delivered an emotional speech in the Grand Kremlin Palace reclaiming Crimea as part of Russia and reversing what he described as a historic injustice.
He cited the threat Russia faced by an expanding NATO presence in Eastern Europe, adding:
“Let me note too that we have already heard declarations from Kiev about Ukraine soon joining NATO. What would this have meant for Crimea and Sevastopol in the future? It would have meant that NATO’s navy would be right there in this city of Russia’s military glory, and this would create not an illusory but a perfectly real threat to the whole of southern Russia.”
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Billion hedge fund unit.
Raising $.45 per share and announcing it may buy back as much as $3.75 billion in the stock.
Mastercard is seeing more consumers shift from cash to electronic payments.
Uber is teaming up with carlos slim.
The mobile service in mexico will feature uber on all android phones.
Let's move on to the big story here.
Russia is raising a red flag in the first recession in more than five years.
Its currency is depreciating to record lows.
The sanctions put more pressure on vladimir putin.
Meantime, you get 30% drops in oil prices.
Russia is not getting as much for its oil.
Will the russian recession mean the end of whom's lyrical -- of vladimir putin's political career?
Bloomberg's foreign-exchange team.
I will also be joined shortly.
Let's talk first about what is going on with the ruble.
We have seen it get hit this year significantly.
You could call this a freefall.
Since the meeting last week, it has fallen roughly 15% versus the dollar.
Speculators are looking for it to continue still.
Basically everything in russia is getting more and more expensive.
Imports are certainly.
If you think about it, in terms of economic management, allowing the ruble to depreciate is really the only told the russian -- the russians and the central bank have to adjust for the depreciating oil prices.
In other words, this is the one adjustment mechanism they can use to keep the economy.
I just came from our investment community and we are trying to decipher, in terms of rubles if this evaluation was enough to accommodate oil prices.
It is an interesting thing that russia is treading on this because allowing the ruble to depreciate as the exporters at an advantage, important considering this is and ask for economy.
Import goods are putting the population in a much more tricky position.
You say they are used to suffering.
Left off about the career of vladimir putin, and what this will mean for him.
Russia, for a while, was able to ride the ride with extremely high energy prices.
The higher energy land, the better off he was.
What will happen now given you have sanctions?
Question is interesting.
I think, you put your finger on it, the russians can suffer, but to the rest of the world, what putin is doing is a sign of weakness.
A great piece came out in the new yorker about merkel and when putin in the 2007 meeting brought in his black labrador to make her nervous, she is afraid of dogs and her response was, this is a sign of a man who is afraid of his own weaknesses.
This bravado, not just taking his shirt off and riding horses, but, you know, innovations , helping the militants in eastern ukraine, is a sign of her father that made 12 -- play well but to the rest of the world come it makes him look weak.
We have been talking about vladimir putin and the fact that the economy has hit some roadblocks and whether or not he can continue his internal clinical success there and power with some of these issues coming up, sanctions really starting to take effect, will it at all affect vladimir's behavior on the world stage?
I think we are having audio issues so we will get back to him in a minute.
Let me ask, do you think we will start to see him change have he has been acting, or is part of his power internally arrive ash derived from his continuing to try and push the envelope as far as the rest of the world is concerned?
I met with russian friends of mine who are reporters and are now working here.
He inks, they think the west is underestimating putin's situation and that the younger folks in russia feel they are somewhat jealous of their parents and the suffering that went on in world war ii.
They have not done anything for their country and this is a patriotic duty, to suffer and bear the brunt as their parents and such did.
They are not actually all that troubled by this.
Interesting.
Let me share you this.
Russian president vladimir putin is looking to have an effect -- do we have the sound bite?
We do.
Let's go to that.
And energy expert , talking to charlie rose, here is what he had to say on putin and a pipeline.
He will not have the kind of maneuverability on the economic front that he has had here the basic argument with people has been, i will deliver you a better economy, and you let me run the show.
All right . what do you make of this.
I think your microphone is working now.
Chime in on what putin's future is politically that there will be in russia if he continues to push the international envelope.
Let's put it this way.
Less popular today than he was four or five months ago because he is now penalized by almost $100 million per day.
Less oil and expert -- export revenue than six or five months ago.
Give it another six months.
His popularity would be in the single digits and he will have
Raising $.45 per share and announcing it may buy back as much as $3.75 billion in the stock.
Mastercard is seeing more consumers shift from cash to electronic payments.
Uber is teaming up with carlos slim.
The mobile service in mexico will feature uber on all android phones.
Let's move on to the big story here.
Russia is raising a red flag in the first recession in more than five years.
Its currency is depreciating to record lows.
The sanctions put more pressure on vladimir putin.
Meantime, you get 30% drops in oil prices.
Russia is not getting as much for its oil.
Will the russian recession mean the end of whom's lyrical -- of vladimir putin's political career?
Bloomberg's foreign-exchange team.
I will also be joined shortly.
Let's talk first about what is going on with the ruble.
We have seen it get hit this year significantly.
You could call this a freefall.
Since the meeting last week, it has fallen roughly 15% versus the dollar.
Speculators are looking for it to continue still.
Basically everything in russia is getting more and more expensive.
Imports are certainly.
If you think about it, in terms of economic management, allowing the ruble to depreciate is really the only told the russian -- the russians and the central bank have to adjust for the depreciating oil prices.
In other words, this is the one adjustment mechanism they can use to keep the economy.
I just came from our investment community and we are trying to decipher, in terms of rubles if this evaluation was enough to accommodate oil prices.
It is an interesting thing that russia is treading on this because allowing the ruble to depreciate as the exporters at an advantage, important considering this is and ask for economy.
Import goods are putting the population in a much more tricky position.
You say they are used to suffering.
Left off about the career of vladimir putin, and what this will mean for him.
Russia, for a while, was able to ride the ride with extremely high energy prices.
The higher energy land, the better off he was.
What will happen now given you have sanctions?
Question is interesting.
I think, you put your finger on it, the russians can suffer, but to the rest of the world, what putin is doing is a sign of weakness.
A great piece came out in the new yorker about merkel and when putin in the 2007 meeting brought in his black labrador to make her nervous, she is afraid of dogs and her response was, this is a sign of a man who is afraid of his own weaknesses.
This bravado, not just taking his shirt off and riding horses, but, you know, innovations , helping the militants in eastern ukraine, is a sign of her father that made 12 -- play well but to the rest of the world come it makes him look weak.
We have been talking about vladimir putin and the fact that the economy has hit some roadblocks and whether or not he can continue his internal clinical success there and power with some of these issues coming up, sanctions really starting to take effect, will it at all affect vladimir's behavior on the world stage?
I think we are having audio issues so we will get back to him in a minute.
Let me ask, do you think we will start to see him change have he has been acting, or is part of his power internally arrive ash derived from his continuing to try and push the envelope as far as the rest of the world is concerned?
I met with russian friends of mine who are reporters and are now working here.
He inks, they think the west is underestimating putin's situation and that the younger folks in russia feel they are somewhat jealous of their parents and the suffering that went on in world war ii.
They have not done anything for their country and this is a patriotic duty, to suffer and bear the brunt as their parents and such did.
They are not actually all that troubled by this.
Interesting.
Let me share you this.
Russian president vladimir putin is looking to have an effect -- do we have the sound bite?
We do.
Let's go to that.
And energy expert , talking to charlie rose, here is what he had to say on putin and a pipeline.
He will not have the kind of maneuverability on the economic front that he has had here the basic argument with people has been, i will deliver you a better economy, and you let me run the show.
All right . what do you make of this.
I think your microphone is working now.
Chime in on what putin's future is politically that there will be in russia if he continues to push the international envelope.
Let's put it this way.
Less popular today than he was four or five months ago because he is now penalized by almost $100 million per day.
Less oil and expert -- export revenue than six or five months ago.
Give it another six months.
His popularity would be in the single digits and he will have
This text has been automatically generated. It may not be 100% accurate.
Read the whole story
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