This year’s Direct Line call-in show with Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun in Moscow. Putin is due to answer questions from people around the country who call into the show apparently spontaneously. The event is for the first time being combined with Putin’s annual press conference. Neither event was held last year.
The organisers say they have received more than two million questions for the president. A recent poll by the Levada Centre found that the question most Russians would like to put to Putin is when the war in Ukraine will end. Families of conscripts in particular said that they would like the president to discuss demobilisation.
We will be bringing you updates and significant announcements from the Direct Line throughout the day.
What would you say to the Putin of 2000?
“I would say, ‘You are on the right path, comrade’." What would you warn him against? “Being naïve and too trusting of our so-called partners. And I would give him a piece of advice: We must believe in the great Russian… Russian people. This is the key to success in the evolution and development of Russia,” Putin said in response to a final question from Kommersant.
The direct line and press conference lasted just over four hours.
On restricting access to abortion
“Is there a ban? There is no ban … We have to proceed with caution. I know the position of the church. … It fights for the life of every human being. The state, too, is interested in women deciding to preserve the life of a child. But women’s rights and freedoms must also be respected in our country. So how do we solve the problem? By appealing to our traditional values, one of which is a large family, and the idea that a child is a gift from God, and by improving the healthcare system and supporting families with children.”
On the return of jailed US citizens
In response to a question from a reporter from The New York Times, Putin said, referring to WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich as an “Austrian citizen” and Paul Whelan, that dialogue on their return to the US is ongoing.
“You said an Austrian citizen is being held without trial. But if his arrest was extended, it was done by court order, so he isn’t being held without trial. You asked, ‘Why can’t they go home?’ But why did they commit crimes on Russian territory? We have not refused to return them to the US. We are trying to agree on conditions that will be acceptable to both sides. We are in contact with our American colleagues on the matter, and dialogue is ongoing. It is complicated, but ongoing. Humanitarian considerations must be at the forefront of our decision-making.”
On NATO
“We see the West attempting to shift NATO activities towards Asia. It’s a North Atlantic bloc. Why is it creeping towards Asia? China and Russia aren’t doing anything of that sort. We aren’t creating any blocs.”
On “traditional values”
“Very many people in the world believe we are doing everything right, that we are defending our national interests without encroaching on anyone else’s. A huge number of people support the defence of traditional values.”
On international relations
Putin said many European leaders are behaving like collaborators.
“Europe has largely lost its sovereignty. Its leaders think of themselves as de Gaulle but behave like Pétain.”
On volunteers helping servicemen
Why are volunteers helping servicemen instead of the state?
“The state is helping too. 99.9% of support comes from the state. But people are showing initiative too, which we welcome, and are grateful for.”
On Russian athletes at the Olympics
Is it worth going to the Olympics after the International Olympic Committee imposed strict conditions on Russian athletes? No such sanctions have been imposed on Israeli athletes. Was this fair?
“Every move against Russian sport is a complete perversion of what the Olympic movement is about. Sport is beyond politics, it should unite people. There is no need to call for a boycott of Israeli athletes. Let them go and perform. The same decision should apply to Russian athletes. Athletes have trained for years for this, and should be given the chance to perform at international competitions. Flag or no flag, everyone knows who they are, which is why I’ve always supported Russian athletes going. But the Sports Ministry and National Olympic Committee need to analyse the situation and make an informed decision.”
On military operations near Krynky, in the Kherson region
“The enemy announced a counter-offensive, but it failed. Their latest attempt was to break through on the left bank of the Dnieper and move towards Crimea. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) struck a narrow section of the Dnieper with artillery and the [Russian] military command decided to retreat a few meters into wooded areas to avoid losses. The AFU pursued. I don’t even know why, sending men to their deaths. We suffered cosmetic losses there, a couple of people were wounded, while the enemy lost dozens of men. They’re sending men in there for political reasons.”
On educating the youth
Putin quoted Otto von Bismarck, “Wars are not won by generals, but by schoolteachers and parish priests,” in reference to war “heroes” being the best example for the fighters of the future.
“And he was absolutely right. Educating young people to be patriots is important. And we are already starting to do that. More than a thousand fighters from the special military operation are working in schools and with children’s groups. Russia will continue to expand on this work.”
On the relationship with the US
As regards the US, “we are ready to work on our relationship with them. The US is an important country, but their imperialist policies hinder them.”
The goals and objectives of the “special operation” remain the same — the “denazification” and “demilitarisation” of Ukraine
“The Ukrainians say that there is no growth in fascist sentiment, but how can that be the case when the Nazi Bandera is a national hero and the head of the Kiev administration applauds an SS soldier? Isn’t that a manifestation of Nazism?”
Will there be a second wave of mobilisation?
“I realise that this is a sensitive question. We have also started recruiting volunteers. As of yesterday, 486,000 recruits are defending the interests of the motherland. There are 1,500 new volunteers per day across the country. So there is no need for a second wave of mobilisation.”
On the economy
One of the first questions is on the resilience of the Russian economy. Putin responded that GDP is expected to grow by 3.5% by the end of the year. He noted high inflation, said the manufacturing industry is growing and that real wages have grown by 8%, and unemployment is at a record low.
