On Thursday, December 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin held the 16th major press conference in a row.

In 4 hours 29 minutes, the head of state answered almost 70 questions from journalists.

Note that this year, due to the COVID-19 coronavirus infection pandemic, the press conference was held partially in the format of a videoconference and included elements of a direct line. 

COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination

During a large press conference, Vladimir Putin spoke about the Russian vaccines against coronavirus infection COVID-19, which were developed by the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after V.I.

N.F.

Gamalei and the State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector".

“Russia turned out to be the first country in the world that invented, so to speak, and began to produce a vaccine - both the Gamaleya Scientific Center and the Vector Novosibirsk Center.

And we have a good vaccine: both safe and effective - over 95%, under 96-97% level of protection, experts say, ”Putin said.

The Russian leader also said that he has not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, since vaccination is not yet provided for citizens of his age group.

“I repeat once again, I am a law-abiding person in this sense, I listen to the recommendations of our specialists and therefore have not supplied this vaccine, as experts say.

But I will definitely do it as soon as it becomes possible, ”the president said.

According to him, large-scale vaccination is necessary to create nationwide, population-based immunity.

Social payments

In 2021, insurance pensions for non-working pensioners will be indexed by 6.3%, that is, higher than inflation, which is expected to be around 4%.

The head of state also named the condition for the resumption of the indexation of pensions for working pensioners.

“The condition is simple - budgetary security ... Of course, we think about it, and pensioners deserve it,” he said.

The Russian leader also said that before the New Year, families with children will receive an additional payment from the state in the amount of 5 thousand rubles for each child up to seven years old.

“Before coming here, I consulted with the government, with the presidential administration.

And we agreed that the country, the state - we will also give our children a gift.

Small, modest, but nonetheless.

All families with children under seven years old will be paid 5 thousand rubles each.

Every child in a family with children up to seven years old inclusive, "Putin explained.

After the end of a large press conference, a corresponding decree was published on the Kremlin's website.

About the incident with Navalny

Several questions from journalists related to the incident with Alexei Navalny and subsequent publications and "investigations" about his alleged poisoning.

According to Vladimir Putin, such "investigations" are "legalization of materials of the American special services."

“Listen, we perfectly understand what it is.

And ... in this case, this is legalization, this is not some kind of investigation.

This is the legalization of materials from the American special services, ”the Russian president said.

Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia is ready to investigate what happened to the blogger, but Western countries do not respond to requests from the Russian side to provide information about his alleged poisoning.

“The German authorities have transferred all the material to the OPCW, they do not give us anything either, referring to the fact that Germany forbade them to give any information.

And Germany says - take all the information there.

Can you explain why we are not given an official conclusion about the use of this "Novice"? "

- Putin asked a question, referring to the BBC journalist.

Relations with the West

Compared to Western countries, Russia is "white and fluffy," said Vladimir Putin.

He noted that after the collapse of the USSR, NATO representatives promised that the alliance would not expand to the east, but did not fulfill these promises.

Then the head of state indicated that Washington had withdrawn from the ABM Treaty, INF Treaty, and the Open Skies Treaty.

“What are we going to do?

I don't want to ask you this question, but what should we do in this regard?

Let it be as it is?

That is, you, as a NATO country, will fly over us and transfer everything to our American partners, and we will be deprived of such an opportunity in relation to American territory, ”he asked the British journalist.

According to him, there were other issues of concern to which Moscow had to respond.

“Why do you think we are assholes?

Why do you think that we cannot see some elementary things? "

- asked Putin.

The President also added that in terms of military spending, Russia is inferior to the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, France and Japan.

In this regard, the Russian Federation cannot be called an aggressive country.

Moscow is committed to dialogue, the Russian leader stressed.

“I would like to say with the words of the cat Leopold from our cartoons:“ Guys, let's live together, ”Putin said.

Cooperation with the USA

During a big press conference, Vladimir Putin expressed the hope that under the administration of US President-elect Joe Biden, whose inauguration will take place on January 20, 2021, at least some of the problems between Moscow and Washington will be resolved.

“He is an experienced person both in domestic policy and in foreign policy, and we hope that all the problems that have arisen, at least some of them, will be resolved under the new administration,” the Russian president said.

The Russian leader also added that Moscow is ready to discuss a treaty on measures to further reduce and limit strategic offensive arms (START III), but in this matter a lot depends on Washington.

“I have already said during this press conference, I have publicly said many times that we are ready to continue the dialogue, knowing that the President-elect Joseph Biden - it sounded so, at least it seemed to me - expressed readiness to continue the dialogue, to preserve this fundamental fundamental document, ”Putin said.

Elections in Russia

The Russian President has no doubts that attempts will be made to interfere from outside in the parliamentary elections in 2021, but Moscow is ready for this.

According to him, the Russian Federation should itself determine its own destiny.

“This is an extremely important internal state of our society.

Therefore, the attitude of bloggers on the Internet, the attitude of the media to protect themselves is an extremely important thing, to defend their sovereignty, "he said.

Putin noted that Russia is ready to work with international observers; opportunities for observation will also be expanded for representatives of Russian public organizations, parties, and the media.

“We will certainly build up this area of ​​our work in order to achieve the main thing.

And the main thing is that the citizens of our country themselves are confident that the elections are held openly, transparently, and their results deserve respect, ”the Russian leader emphasized.

Vladimir Putin also said that he had not yet made a decision on participation in the presidential elections in 2024.

“I have not yet made a decision for myself whether I will or will not go to the elections in 2024 ... Formally, this permission is from the people; I will see whether to do or not to do so,” the Russian president said.