Sayings
Twelve quotations, each verbatim from a published transcript, with the venue and date stated. English renderings follow the official Kremlin translations where they exist; where only Russian originals are documented, the translation is flagged.
On pursuing terrorists (1999)
“We will pursue the terrorists everywhere. If we catch them in the toilet, we will waste them in the outhouse.”
This is the widely reported English rendering of Putin’s September 1999 remarks to journalists about Chechen militants (Russian: “Мочить в сортире”). The phrasing established his blunt public style within weeks of becoming prime minister.
Source: Remarks to journalists, September 1999, during the launch of the Second Chechen War. Widely reported in Russian and international press; the English wording above is the standard published rendering, not an official Kremlin translation.
On the unipolar world (2007)
“I consider that the unipolar model is not only unacceptable but also impossible in today’s world.”
Source: Address to the 43rd Munich Security Conference, Munich, 10 February 2007. The Kremlin published the English transcript; this wording follows it.
On American power (2007)
“One state and, of course, first and foremost the United States, has overstepped its national borders in every way.”
Source: Address to the 43rd Munich Security Conference, Munich, 10 February 2007 (Kremlin English transcript).
On NATO expansion (2007)
“NATO expansion does not have any relation with the modernisation of the Alliance itself or with ensuring security in Europe. On the contrary, it represents a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust.”
Source: Address to the 43rd Munich Security Conference, Munich, 10 February 2007 (Kremlin English transcript).
On the Soviet collapse (2005)
“Above all, we should acknowledge that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a major geopolitical disaster of the century.”
Source: Annual Address to the Federal Assembly, Moscow, 25 April 2005 (Kremlin English translation). Note: the frequently circulated variant “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century” is a paraphrase; the Kremlin’s English wording is “major geopolitical disaster.”
On Russians outside Russia (2005)
“Tens of millions of our co-citizens and compatriots found themselves outside Russian territory.”
Source: Annual Address to the Federal Assembly, Moscow, 25 April 2005 (Kremlin English translation).
On his years as president (2008)
“I worked like a galley slave from morning to night.”
Putin used this phrase at his final press conference as president, describing his eight years in office — the widely reported English rendering of the Russian “пахал, как раб на галерах.”
Source: Final press conference as President of Russia, Moscow, 14 February 2008. Widely reported in Russian and international press.
On American exceptionalism (2013)
“It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation.”
Source: “A Plea for Caution From Russia,” op-ed by Vladimir Putin, The New York Times, 11 September 2013 (published in English as written).
On Crimea (2014)
“In people’s hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an inseparable part of Russia.”
Source: Address to the Federal Assembly on Crimea’s accession, Moscow, 18 March 2014. Presented here as Putin’s stated position; the international legal status is covered in Ukraine Conflict.
On Western interventions (2015)
“I cannot help asking those who have caused this situation: do you realize now what you have done?”
Source: Address to the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, New York, 28 September 2015 — in the context of his criticism of Western interventions in the Middle East and North Africa.
On striking first (2015)
“Fifty years ago, the streets of Leningrad taught me the rule: If a fight is inevitable, you must strike first.”
Source: Valdai Discussion Club, Sochi, October 2015. Widely reported in Russian and international press; the English wording is the standard published rendering.
On Russia and the world (2018)
“Why do we need such a world if there is no Russia there?”
Source: Interview for the documentary The World Order 2018, aired March 2018. Context: Putin was discussing Russia’s doctrine of retaliatory nuclear use — not offering a standalone slogan — and the line is presented here with that context.
Kept off this page
The line “He who does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart; he who wants it back has no brain” is widely attributed to Putin but has no verified primary transcript on the public record. It is omitted rather than repeated as fact.
Source notes
- Kremlin English transcripts: the official Kremlin website’s English-language archive (see sources).
- NYT op-ed: The New York Times, 11 September 2013.
- Where the English wording is a standard published rendering rather than an official translation, the entry says so.