Russia is a part of European culture. Therefore, it is with difficulty that I imagine NATO as an enemy.

[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,

We had to pay a ... high price for restoring the territorial integrity of Russia and today we are bowing our heads to the memory of the military and civilians who ... paid with their lives to have our country strong and inseparable,

Russia deeply sympathizes with Americans, who faced a disaster of such a colossal scale, and is ready to offer necessary assistance,

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