Putin talks arms race, US election & Syria ceasefire in year-end Q&A — RT News

This yr was Putin’s 15th query and reply session with journalists from Russia and main worldwide retailers. As up to now, it centered on home financial and political issues, however journalists additionally requested about Russia’s function in world and overseas affairs.

‘In which country?’ Putin jokes about elections amid US interference claims (VIDEO)

Democrats ought to study to lose with grace

Putin reiterated his denial of tampering with the US presidential election, saying that the Democratic Party simply wished responsible all their failures on someone else.

“The Democratic Party misplaced not solely the presidential election, but in addition elections within the Congress, the place the Republicans now have a majority. Was that my doing too?” the Russian president requested. “Everything factors to systematic issues within the present administration.”

AS IT HAPPENED: Putin’s Q&A with media 2016 

He added that the celebration’s newest defeat got here throughout the vote by the Electoral College this week. Two of the electors turned their again on Trump whereas 5 broke the Democrat ranks and refused to vote for Clinton.

“They are dropping on all fronts and search for another person responsible. I imagine, that is, how ought to I say, humiliating. One ought to know the right way to lose with grace,” he mentioned.

Putin rejected the notion that the rising help of Russia amongst Republican voters was because of his private enchantment to them.

“I imagine that signifies that a big a part of the American folks has a viewpoint coinciding [with Russia’s] on how the world ought to work, what we ought to be doing and the place widespread threats and issues are,” he mentioned, including this might be the inspiration for good relations between the US and Russia.

If we’re in an arms race, the US began it

Putin mentioned Russia was compelled to enhance its nuclear weapons after the US pulled out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty in 2002. Therefore, if the 2 nations have been in a nuclear arms race, it was initiated by Washington, Putin mentioned.

“When one celebration unilaterally withdrew from the treaty and mentioned it was going to create an anti-nuclear umbrella, the opposite celebration has to both create an identical umbrella – the need of which we’re not positive about, contemplating its questionable effectivity – or create efficient methods to beat this anti-ballistic missile system and enhance its strike capabilities,” the Russian president advised journalists.

READ MORE: If we are in arms race, US started it by pulling out of ABM treaty – Putin

He added that the US too was upgrading its nuclear arsenal, together with tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Europe.

“In Turkey, in Britain, within the Netherlands a alternative of American tactical nuclear weapons is underway,” he mentioned, addressing a BBC correspondent who had requested in regards to the nuclear subject. “I hope that your program audiences and web customers learn about that.”

Nationwide ceasefire in Syria subsequent objective after Aleppo

Cooperation between Turkey, Iran and Russia has made doable the decision of hostilities in Aleppo, Putin mentioned, describing the tip of the evacuation of insurgent fighters from the Syrian metropolis. The president referred to as the evacuation the “largest worldwide humanitarian motion on the earth.”

“We organized it and moved folks in hundreds and tens of hundreds. Not solely the armed radicals and their supporters, but in addition ladies and kids,” he mentioned.

“This couldn’t have occurred with out the lively work of the Turkish management, the Turkish president, the president of Iran and the complete Iranian management. We contributed to it actively too. And after all this couldn’t have occurred with out the goodwill and work of Syrian President [Bashar] Assad and his folks.”

Putin added that the pursuits of different regional powers, resembling Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, in addition to the opinion of America, have been all considered. The subsequent objective in Syria is a nationwide ceasefire and political settlement, the Russian chief mentioned, including that Moscow had recommended that Kazakhstan hosts peace talks on the matter.

Turkey: Ambassador assassination sheds new gentle on bomber downing

Putin mentioned that the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey this week made him rethink the speculation that the shooting-down of a Russian warplane by a Turkish fighter jet final yr may have occurred with out an order from the Turkish management.

“Frankly talking, I used to be skeptical about this [theory]. But now, after the assault on the ambassador dedicated by an officer of the particular service, I started to rethink. I could imagine now that something is feasible,” he mentioned.

The downing of the Russian aircraft over Syria despatched Russian-Turkish relations right into a tailspin. Months of diplomatic work have been mandatory to shut the rift and convey Ankara and Moscow on higher phrases.

The state of affairs in Turkey modified dramatically after a failed army coup in July. Ankara accused self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the coup and launched a crackdown on his alleged supporters embedded in Turkey. Some officers mentioned that the downing of the Russian aircraft in November 2015 was impressed by the motion and was supposed to make Russia an enemy of Turkey and its authorities.

Normandy course of inefficient for Ukraine disaster, however what’s the choice?

The lack of progress regarding a Ukrainian peace settlement beneath the so-called ‘Normandy format’ is regrettable, however there is no such thing as a higher various for the time being, Putin mentioned. He was referring to the common conferences of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, meant to deescalate violence in japanese Ukraine. The most up-to-date gathering of the group happened in October.

“The Normandy format the truth is doesn’t show to be super-effective. One can solely remorse that it really works so poorly, however there is no such thing as a various,” Putin mentioned. “If we lose this mechanism, the state of affairs will degrade quickly, which isn’t fascinating.”

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