Putin jokes about his love life but hints at new first lady
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MIXING wry jokes with economic statistics, Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to charm the nation during his annual marathon phone-in TV show yesterday, promising that its troubled economy will rebound and vowing to make other countries reckon with Russia’s interests.
Putin answered questions from adults and children from around the country during the highly scripted event.
Ahead of the show, Russians sent in more than a million questions for him, ranging from economic troubles at home to the situation in Syria.
He laughed off a question about his love life, but hinted that “maybe” he will remarry one day.
A female supporter had asked the 63-year-old when he was planning to introduce the country’s next first lady. He responded by saying he was afraid his marriage may affect the country’s already wobbly foreign exchange rate or oil prices.
“Maybe one day I will be able to satisfy your curiosity,” he said.
In 2013, Putin and his wife Lyudmila, his partner of nearly 30 years, with whom he has two daughters, stunned Russia by announcing their divorce on television after attending a ballet performance at the Kremlin.
Earlier this year, Russian media suggested that Putin’s former wife had found happiness again, marrying a 37-year-old man and taking his last name.
Putin’s love life has always been a virtual taboo in Russian media, although some reports have linked the president to former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva, 32, even before his divorce.
He said elected officials should be judged by their deeds and that their personal life was not of “primary importance.”
He was in touch with his former wife, and joked that their relationship might have even improved once they went their separate ways.
“I know she’s doing well,” Putin said.
“She’s pleased with her life. I am also pleased. I am doing very well too.”
Asked about Russia’s strained ties with Turkey, Ukraine and some other nations, Putin said Russia is ready for friendly ties with all nations but will retaliate to any hostile moves.
“We must respond, or otherwise they will sit on our neck and whip us up,” Putin said.
He said the United States must learn to respect Russia’s legitimate interests and cooperate with Moscow as an equal.
“If they talk to us in a respectful way, we will always be able to find solutions that will satisfy everyone,” he said. “They must simply work with Russia as an equal partner.”
Putin told viewers that Russia has shored up the Syrian army to the point where it can conduct offensive operations despite a Russian military drawdown, pointing to the Syrian forces’ success in recapturing Palmyra from the Islamic State group.
Putin also voiced the hope that a truce brokered by Russia and the US will help the Syria peace talks in Geneva go forward and pave the way for a new constitution and an early election.
Despite the current strain in relations with Turkey, Putin said Russia considers it a friendly nation but has “problems with some politicians who have behaved improperly.”
When a 12-year-old girl asked who he would save if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko were drowning, Putin responded: “If someone decides to drown, it’s impossible to save him.”
But he added: “We, of course, are ready to extend the hand of assistance and the hand of friendship to any of our partners if they themselves want this.”
Russia-Turkey ties worsened dramatically after a Turkish jet shot down a Russian warplane at the Syrian border last November. Putin responded by halting the sale of package tours to Turkey and banning most agricultural imports from the country.
Putin acknowledged Russia’s economy was in recession, but said it would grow next year.
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