At yesterday's marathon press conference, Russian leader Vladimir Putin defended the US president, saying the impeachment process was based on "fabricated allegations", praised the British prime minister and hinted that he supports constitutional changes and limits to two presidential terms in total, not two in a row, to prevent future Kremlin leaders from doing what he did.
The press conference lasted more than four hours and was attended by over 1.000 journalists from Russia and the world. Unlike the conferences of previous years, Putin this time began to answer questions immediately without an opening speech in which he usually focused on the Russian economy. It is possible that that part escaped because the promised improvement in living standards did not occur, according to "Bloomberg" and adds that economic growth in Russia will be around 1,3 percent this year, which is below the 1,8 percent that Putin announced at the 2018 conference. .
Answering a journalist's question about the impeachment of the American president, Putin said that he expects Donald Trump to remain in the White House.
"It (the impeachment decision) still has to pass the Senate, where the Republicans are in the majority. It is unlikely that they will want to remove a representative of their party from power based on completely fabricated charges," Putin said, comparing the impeachment to the investigation into collusion with Russia, which he has repeatedly dismissed as unfounded.
However, Putin expressed disappointment over the Trump administration's refusal to respond to Russia's offer to extend the New START nuclear deal, which expires in 2021.
"If there is no agreement, then nothing will be able to stop the arms race", he warned.
Putin also dismissed allegations of Russian interference in British politics and praised Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saying he "understands the British position on Brexit better than his political rivals".
When a BBC journalist reminded him that Johnson had once compared him to Dobby, the house elf from the Harry Potter movies, Putin said he was not interested.
"I know what the interests of my country are. Whatever someone says about me is not important when compared to Russia's goals," said the Russian leader and added that based on discussions with British investors and businessmen, he believes that London wants stronger economic ties with Russia.
Relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest level since the Cold War, but Putin pointed out yesterday that Russia has recovered and has become more resistant to Western sanctions and the instability of energy prices on the global market.
He expressed hope that there could be progress in ending the conflict in the east of Ukraine, but emphasized that the Minsk Agreement must be respected despite the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asking for the agreement to be revised. "The Minsk agreement is the only thing we have. If we start to change it, it will lead us to a dead end".
Putin, who claims that the collapse of the USSR is the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century, criticized Vladimir Lenin and his ethnic policy yesterday. "His idea of giving greater autonomy to the Soviet republics, including the right to secede, paved the way for the Soviet collapse the moment the Communist Party began to lose control of power."
But the Russian leader rejected calls for Lenin's embalmed body to be removed from the Red Square tomb and buried, saying older Russians might find it offensive.
He said the collapse of the USSR fueled expectations of a world where the US dictates terms to others, adding that those "illusions" were quickly dispelled. Putin said China now rivals the United States as a global economic power and praised the close relationship between Moscow and Beijing. However, he said, Russia is not planning a military alliance with China, despite Moscow helping Beijing build a missile attack warning system.
Putin supports presidential term limits
Answering a journalist's question, the 67-year-old leader said that he is open to possible changes to the constitution regarding the presidential mandate and powers, but avoided saying what his plans are in 2024, when his mandate expires and when he is required by law to leave office.
He said he was aware of proposals to strengthen the powers of parliament and adjust the powers of the traditionally strong president and the weaker prime minister. "The logic of those who propose it is clear to me," Putin said. "But it can be implemented only after serious preparations and public discussion, and it should be done cautiously".
He indicated that he supports amending the constitution to limit the presidential term to two terms in total, rather than two consecutive terms as the law currently states.
"This provision worries some of our political analysts and public figures. Well, maybe it can be removed”.
Putin has been in power since 2000 and this is his fourth presidential term. Between the second and third terms of office, he handed over power to Dmitry Medvedev and served as prime minister until 2012
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