Putin expects certain problems in Russia-U.S. relations to be solved during Biden tenure
NOVO-OGARYOVO. Dec 17 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he expects many problems in Russian-U.S. relations to be solved after the new U.S. administration takes office.
"The Russian-U.S. relations have become a hostage of the U.S. domestic policy. In my opinion, it's bad for them but it's their choice, let them do what they want. We believe the U.S. president-elect will sort things out due to his domestic and foreign policy experience and hope that all arising problems, if not all then at least some of them, will be resolved during the tenure of the next administration," Putin said at his annual press conference on Thursday.
As he was answering the question about the future employment of incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump, Putin said, "I do not think Trump needs to get employed. Nearly 50% of the U.S. population have voted for him, if we count the number of voters instead of electoral college members. He enjoys fairly broad support in the United States. And, as far as I understand, he is not going to quit the political life of his country."
He hoted that Russian hackers did not help the Donald Trump campaign and did not interfere in the U.S. electoral process.
"Russian hackers did not help the incumbent U.S. president get elected and did not interfere in internal affairs of that great nation. That's mere hearsay aimed to spoil relations between Russia and the United States and to deny recognition to the legitimacy of the incumbent U.S. president for U.S. domestic political considerations," Putin said at the press conference.
He thus answered the question from journalist and producer Sergei Shnurov why Russian hackers did not help Trump get reelected.
Putin described Shnurov's question as provocation.
Meanwhile, Russia knows that there will be attempts to interfere in the elections to the State Duma in 2021 from the outside, but it is capable of countering them, the Russian president said.
"Of course, there'll be attempts to interfere; they always act this way, and not only in our elections but virtually around the world. This is global politics, both as concerns bases around the world and interference around the world. We know this and are preparing for this," Putin said.
"But we'll be able to oppose this efficiently only if an overwhelming majority of our citizens understands that, a) this is interference, and b) that we must oppose this, that this is unacceptable, and that we should determine our fate on our own," he said.
General sentiments in Russian society are of paramount importance, Putin said. "The determination of Internet bloggers and the determination of the media outlets to defend ourselves is an extremely important thing for defending our sovereignty," Putin said.
Russia is open to cooperate with its partners, including international monitors in elections, he said.
"What counts most is that the citizens of our country themselves should be sure that elections are held openly and transparently and that their results deserve respect," Putin said.
Navalny incident
President Vladimir Putin has said he views the recent investigation into what happened to opposition activist Alexei Navalny in Siberia as legalization of U.S. security services' materials.
"We are perfectly aware of what it is. In both cases, it was legalization - not some investigation - it actually was legalization of materials of U.S. security services. Don't we know that they are tracking the location? Our security services understand and know that quite well. Officers of the FSB and other security services know that. They use their phones where they do not deem it necessary to conceal their whereabouts, etc.," Putin said at his annual press conference.
He added that U.S. security services had been supporting Navalny but there was no reason for poisoning.
"If this is so - and rest assured, this is - it means that this patient of the Berlin clinic enjoys support from U.S. security services. And if this is right, this is also interesting. In this case, security services should certainly keep an eye on him. But this absolutely does not mean he should be poisoned. Who cares about him? If they had really wanted, they would have gone the whole way," Putin said.
Putin has said he believes that the U.S. Department of State and security services are behind the authors of journalistic investigations into him, his family, and his entourage.
Putin was asked a question about the investigation, which referred to anonymous sources and "hacker archives" and, in particular, released information about Putin's family.
"That's the Department of State and U.S. security services; they are the real authors. Anyway, this has clearly been done on their orders. This is absolutely obvious," Putin said.
Covid-19 vaccine
Countries should combine their efforts to oppose the coronavirus pandemic rather than look for those who can be blamed for it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"There are a lot of rumors indeed, but I wouldn't like to talk about this to the whole country and the whole world, especially considering that we don't see any evidence confirming the accusations leveled at anyone," he said at the press conference.
"We should focus on something else, not look for culprits but combine efforts to fight the problem, and this would be the right line of our cooperation," he said.
Journalists also asked Putin whether he instructed Russian special services to establish the causes and origins of the coronavirus.
"Certainly, various assignments are given, but this is not the proper place to discuss how they are fulfilled," Putin said.
Cooperation between the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and AstraZeneca on a coronavirus vaccine is important for the whole world, the Russian president said.
"Thank God, our foreign colleagues turned their faces towards us too and are ready for cooperation, they're struggling with something, and the AstraZeneca company is ready to work with us, a relevant agreement is signed now," Putin said at the press conference.
"It is excellent, I am happy when experts of such a high level, - and it's a good major company that's internationally renowned - when they join efforts with Russian partners among others, I am sure the results will be a very good thing not only for our citizens, but the whole world," he said.
Millions of coronavirus vaccine doses will be produced in Russia at the beginning of next year, Putin said.
"Production of this vaccine requires relevant plants, enterprises, and hardware - all that will be scaled up. I expect all of these plans to be fulfilled and production of millions of vaccine doses to be ensured next year, at the beginning of the year," he said.
The output "will keep on growing," Putin said.
The primary objective is to vaccinate the Russian population, the Russian president said.
"As for cooperation with foreign countries: nothing is stopping us from manufacturing vaccine components at facilities in other countries precisely because we need time to enhance technological capacities of our vaccine manufacturing enterprises," he said.
Foreign countries will be investing in these projects: the enlargement of production facilities and the purchase of equipment, Putin said.
"This does not hinder vaccination in the Russian Federation in any way," he said.
Vladimir Putin also promised to receive coronavirus vaccine as soon as this becomes possible. He has not received it yet because the available vaccine is not intended for people of his age.
"Specialists tell us that the vaccines, which are currently being deployed, are designed for citizens of a particular age group, and vaccines have not reached people like me just yet," Putin said.
"I listen to the recommendations of our specialists, which is why the vaccine has not been administered on me, as specialists say, but I will do so without doubt as soon as this becomes possible," he said.