Пресс-конференция Владимира Путина по итогам саммита стран СНГ: прямая трансляция

Summary

At a press conference after the CIS summit, Vladimir Putin discussed the future of the Commonwealth, regional conflicts, Russia’s economic measures, and relations with several countries.

The CIS and its members

Putin said membership and cooperation are voluntary, and countries may choose their own path. He argued that CIS countries benefit from shared infrastructure, complementary industries, and similar systems of education and workforce training.

He described Ukraine’s departure from cooperation, Georgia’s withdrawal, and Moldova’s turn toward Europe as choices with economic consequences. He said Armenia was not leaving the CIS, and that Russia would take over the Commonwealth’s chairmanship in January and pursue a broad program of work. He also said many documents of mutual interest were signed at the summit.

Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia-Azerbaijan relations

Putin said Armenia’s recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan had changed the basis for the Russian peacekeeping mission. He said the peacekeepers were in the region under an agreed mandate, and that Russia would discuss with its partners what to do next.

He offered Moscow as a venue for renewed Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks, saying the main outstanding questions concerned border demarcation and delimitation.

Security cooperation in Central Asia

Asked about Russia’s Kant airbase in Kyrgyzstan, Putin said it was an active unit established at Kyrgyzstan’s request and that its aircraft were on duty. He also welcomed progress toward a joint air-defence system, calling it important for the security of participating countries.

Currency and the Russian economy

Putin described the decree requiring certain exporters to repatriate and sell foreign-currency earnings as a compromise measure intended to address exchange-rate volatility. He said it was not yet clear how effective it would be, and that officials would assess its impact.

He attributed pressure on the ruble partly to exporters keeping earnings abroad while imports had risen. He characterized the economy as stable, while acknowledging that exchange-rate regulation might need adjustment.

People returning to Russia

Asked about Mikhail Fridman and others who had lived abroad, Putin said there were no general restrictions on returning. He said individuals could be held accountable for violations of Russian law, and also referred to the importance of their conduct toward the country.

Israel and the Palestinians

Putin condemned the Hamas attack on Israel while criticizing the scale and methods of Israel’s response. He stressed the need to protect Gaza’s civilian population and warned against measures that would collectively harm its residents.

He said Russia could potentially help mediate, pointing to its relations with both Israel and the Arab world, but only if the parties agreed. He also said Russia was ready to help its citizens leave the affected areas if they wished, and advised them to contact the relevant embassy.

Claims about weapons reaching Hamas

Asked about reports that Western-supplied weapons from Ukraine might have reached Hamas, Putin said he had no information confirming that route. He asserted that weapons were being diverted into a black market in Ukraine, but expressed doubt that the Ukrainian leadership itself was directing such sales.

China and other foreign visits

Putin said his planned China visit would focus on cooperation between China’s Belt and Road initiative and Russia’s Eurasian projects, as well as bilateral trade, settlements in national currencies, energy, high technology, and transport routes. He said other foreign visits were possible but did not identify a specific itinerary.

The Baltic Connector pipeline

Putin rejected suggestions that Russia was responsible for damage to the Finland–Estonia gas pipeline. He said he had not known about the pipeline and suggested that technical causes or accidental damage should be investigated. He criticized accusations made before the investigation was complete.

Gas supplies to Uzbekistan

Putin described work to enable Russian gas deliveries to Uzbekistan through infrastructure in Kazakhstan. He said the existing system had been designed mainly to carry gas out of Central Asia, so reverse-flow deliveries required technical, legal, and logistical work. He said the preparations had been completed in time for the heating season.

Presenters and contributors

• Vladimir Putin, Russian president
• Olya Volkova, identified in the subtitles as a news journalist
• Edmund Zhelnov, NTV
• Ekaterina Rostovtseva, identified as an information-agency correspondent
• Alexander Yunchev
• A Channel One correspondent, identified in the subtitles as Pustovalov
• A correspondent identified as “MIC News”
• A Kommersant correspondent
• A correspondent associated with an RT question
• Other questioners, whose names or outlets are unclear in the subtitles