Putin is a product of the era, like everyone else. I communicated with Brezhnev (a little), with Chernenko, with Andropov, with Gorbachev - many, with Yeltsin - most of all: they are all the same. There is no need to link Russia's intentions and actions to a specific figure. This is the philosophy of Russia. Russia has been fighting for 150 years for its historical existence. During these 150 years, she created the intellectuals of war. We cannot replace our neighbor, so we must learn to live with Russia.

Leonid Kravchuk