Nobody should have any illusion about the possibility of gaining military superiority over Russia. We will never allow this to happen.

[Russian forces] managed to do the impossible -- that is to save lives of hundreds, ... We have proven that Russia will not fall to its knees.

I will not allow any destabilization in Russia, in the interests of the ... peoples of the Russian Federation,

Today I told George that in Russia we, too, will draw our conclusions

The Russian people have unilaterally made their choice in direction of democracy in the early '90s. They will not be led astray. Nobody should be having any doubts.

Nobody should pin their hopes on a miracle.