Moscow, December 17 Russian President Putin held an annual press conference on the 17th. During this period, Putin said that Russia and China have common interests in many fields, and the leaders of the two countries maintain mutual trust and pragmatic good relations.
Russia and many countries around the world, including China, are carrying out multi-level epidemic prevention cooperation.
At present, it is not to find the party responsible for the origin of the novel coronavirus. The international community should work together to defeat the epidemic.
Putin’s tradition of holding annual press conferences began in 2001. Unlike previous years, Putin and media reporters face-to-face, affected by the epidemic this year, Putin communicated remotely with reporters by video at the new Ogalevovo residence in Moscow Oblast.
At this press conference, the epidemic is an important part of Putin’s talk. Putin said there are many rumors about the origin of the epidemic, but we have not seen any relevant evidence. Western countries claim that their policies are humanistic, and at least at present they should lift the sanctions imposed on countries that are struggling with the epidemic.
Putin said that Russia and many countries around the world, including China, are carrying out multi-level epidemic prevention cooperation, and such cooperation is still developing.
Putin mentioned that Russia’s coronavirus vaccine has reached 97% in effectiveness, and so far there have been no serious side effects. I believe that Russia’s cooperation with other countries in the field of COVID-19 vaccine research and development will bring good results. He said that he had not been vaccinated, but he would definitely be vaccinated later.
Speaking of international issues, Putin said that Russia did not interfere in the U.S. election, and the accusations of the United States are based on speculation.
The United States has criticized Russia for internal political considerations, and Russia-US relations have been kidnapped by the domestic policies of the United States. U.S. President-elect Biden is a politically experienced person who hopes to clarify and solve some problems in Russian-American relations during his term.
Putin said that in recent years, NATO’s military facilities have been approaching the Russian border, and the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the ABM Treaty has forced Russia to take countermeasures.
He said that Russia had proposed to the United States to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty for one year in preparation for signing a new document, but so far no response from the United States has been received.
Putin mentioned that Russia may increase the number of peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh (Naka) region if Armenia and Azerbaijan deem it necessary. In addition, Russia will strengthen humanitarian support and strengthen direct cooperation with the local area in eastern Ukraine. At present, the key to solving the problem in eastern Ukraine lies with the Ukrainian authorities.
Speaking of internal affairs, Putin said that the coronavirus epidemic has had a serious negative impact on Russia and the world. Russia’s GDP is expected to decline by 3.6% in 2020, and the unemployment rate is expected to reach 6.3%.
However, Russia’s economic situation is still better than the average of European and American countries. It is estimated that the economic problems caused by the epidemic should be solved from the end of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022.
Putin mentioned that he had not yet decided whether to run for the 2024 presidential election, and whether he would run for the election would depend on the will of the people.
The annual press conference lasted about four and a half hours, with more than 700 Russian and foreign journalists participating.
