The Russian resident held his 11th annual news conference with a special focus on international events. Similar Q&A sessions in the past have lasted up to several hours. The record was set in 2008, when Vladimir Putin spent 4 hours and 40 minutes speaking with journalists.
During the press conference, the Russian President lashed out at Turkey saying the downing of the Russian jet by Turkey was a hostile act.
“If it was an accident, pick up the phone & explain. Instead Turkey hid behind NATO” adding that “Someone in the Turkish leadership tried to lick the Americans in a particular place”.
“Did they think we’d run away? No, we’re not that kind of country.” Mr. Putin said while he sees no possibility to mend ties with Turkey on world stage after the downing of the Russian warplane.
Regarding ISIS, he said that the terrorist group arose to fill power vacuum made by US invasion of Iraq and uses Islamic slogans to keep oil flowing adding that ISIS is a threat to everyone. “The quicker we can deal with it. The better. Nothing other than political solution [in Syria]”.
