Putin discusses Ukraine, the Black Sea, vaccinations with the public Vladimir Putin News

Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed various domestic and foreign policy issues in his questions and answers with citizens.

The annual “Live Line with Vladimir Putin” is broadcast on television and radio.

It was postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are some remarks from Wednesday’s session, as Moscow’s ties to the West are very serious in Ukraine over the Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny and allegations of cyberattacks.

When getting vaccinated against COVID:

Last year, Russia became the first country to accept the COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, and gave it its first public batch.

Putin said: “I chose to be vaccinated with Sputnik V. The military is being vaccinated with Sputnik V. And I am ultimately the commander-in-chief.

“After the first shot, I didn’t feel anything at all. About four hours later, there was tenderness where I shot. I did the second one (shooting) at noon. At midnight, I measured my temperature. It was 37.2 (Celsius). I went to sleep, woke up and my temperature was 36.6. That was it.

“I don’t support the mandatory vaccination and I continue to maintain that view.”

About Ukraine:

Ukraine has been fighting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014. After a ceasefire last year, the conflict escalated again in early 2021. In April, Russia drew more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and in Crimea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Putin to join eastern Ukraine.

Putin rejected that offer, saying instead that the Ukrainian leader was welcome in Moscow “anytime.” Russia later announced a withdrawal of troops, but Washington and Kiev say the withdrawal has been limited.

On Wednesday, the Russian leader said: “Why should I join [Ukraine President Volodymyr] If Zelenskyy has given his country full control of the outside world? The key problems for Ukraine are not being solved in Kyiv, Washington, and partly in Berlin and Paris. What is there to discuss? I don’t give up (meeting him), I just have to understand what I’m talking about. ‘

The last time in Russia He was thrown into the Black Sea With the United Kingdom:

Relations between the West and Russia intensified as a result of an incident in the Black Sea earlier this month. Russia says it fired its warning shots and dropped bombs on the route of a British destroyer that had fled to its territorial waters, but the UK has debated the matter.

“That is a provocation of course. That is quite clear. What did they want to show and what goals did they want to achieve? First (provocations) it had several components. It was carried out not only by the British, but also by the Americans, as the British destroyer entered our territorial waters during the day, and early in the morning, at 7:30, I believe an American strategic reconnaissance aircraft took off from a NATO military. In Greece, Crete. They told me about it … We saw it well, we saw it. It was clear that the destroyer (which had entered our waters) first wanted to achieve military goals, with the help of a reconnaissance aircraft they tried to expose the actions of our military to stop these provocations …

“There was also a political component. A meeting (with US President Joe Biden) was recently held in Geneva. One has to wonder why it was necessary to make such a provocation. Why is all this being done? Emphasize that these people do not respect the opportunity for Crimeans to join the Russian Federation.

“Even if the British destroyer sank near Crimea, it would be unlikely that the world would be on the brink of World War III. I know that those who do this cannot emerge victorious from this war. That is very important. I don’t think we would be happy with that development.

“But at least we know what we’re fighting for. We are in our own territory, we are fighting for our future. We didn’t go to them, flying thousands of miles and reaching the waterways. They were the ones who reached our borders and violated the waters of our territory. “

On social media:

In recent months, Russia has fined social media companies for refusing to remove publications that encouraged children to join protests. These bans have come amid crowded rallies in support of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny.

Putin said: “We have no intention of blocking anyone, we intend to work with them. But there are problems. They have told us to hesitate and they have told us not to comply with our requirements and Russian law.

“We tell them, ‘You’re spreading child pornography, suicide instructions and instructions for preparing Molotov cocktails, etc. You have to remove that.’ They don’t even listen to what we say. This is wrong.”

On one of the following:

Putin told the Russians on Wednesday that the time would come for the Kremlin to name his possible successor, but said the chances would eventually be up to the voters.

Putin, who has been in power for 68 years, has been president or prime minister since the turn of the century. His six-year term in the Kremlin will end in 2024. They are reviewing his comments to see if he intends to extend his rule.

Last year, Russia amended its constitution, allowing the Kremlin to run for two more six-year terms, likely to be president until 2036.

“On the one hand, they say that the holy place is never empty and that there are no irreplaceable people,” Putin said. “On the other hand, it is my responsibility to make recommendations to the people who will be running for president. It happens in every country in the world, I know of no exceptions.

“Of course, there will come a time when I think this person or another person can say that our homeland is worth driving to such a wonderful country as Russia.”