Joe Manchin Quotes

We've got oligarchs. There are certain people that benefit in the Russian sphere if you will. The oligarchs who basically feed Putin, they've got to be hurt without hurting the people. The people are hurting bad enough in Russia, and they're very skeptical of what's going on and all of the corruption goes on in Russia. Russia is not our ally. Russia is not our friend. And to treat Putin as an ally and a friend is wrong.

I am interested in the subject which is Russia.

I'm tired of Italian gangsters. Not that I don't watch 'The Godfather' every morning when I get up and 'Goodfellas' when I go to sleep at night. But I've just always been fascinated by Russia as a country, by the Russian personality. And now Russia is literally a gangster nation.

Putin has big plans for Russia...Hats off to the Russians. I think I would just get along very well with Vladimir Putin.

We have published about 800,000 documents of various kinds that relate to Russia. Most of those are critical; and a great many books have come out of our publications about Russia, most of which are critical.

The more Mr. Putin extends the fighting in eastern Ukraine, the more the financial markets will ratchet up their own pressure on Russia.

Much that we read of Russia is imagination and desire only.

I don't have any comment on who the people of Russia choose to be their leaders.

I know Russia well.

Donald Trump himself has financial ties to oligarchs in Russia who are close to Putin.

Not too many people out there are interested in Russia so much that they really want to watch things about Russia and only about Russia.

The effect of sanctions on the Russian economy are clear to everybody, first to the Russians and to the Russian leadership, and the surroundings of the Russian leadership, the circle that is close to the Russian political leadership.

I've never dealt with the Russian government, I've never had a relationship with the Russian government.

If President Obama really wants to hurt the Syrian government, don't send cruise missiles. He should send over some of his economic advisers.

The Kremlin, this cadre of people supporting Vladimir Putin, and Vladimir Putin himself understand is strength, is resolve.

I know nothing about the inner workings of Russia. I don't deal there. I have no businesses there. I have no loans from Russia.

The Iranian people are getting restive because of the challenges that sanctions have posed to their economy.

Not much happens in Russia without Vladimir Putin.

Putin has made life difficult for a lot of Russia's richest men; they don't like the sanctions; they don't like the war with the West. Many of them have houses and families and businesses in the West, and so I can see them being unhappy. But at the moment, the political system is so constructed that it would be very difficult for them to leave. That's not saying it couldn't change.

I have nothing to do with Putin. I've never spoken to him. I don't know anything about him other than he will respect me.

I'm not sure, but [Russia] might be happy to see this guy [Dan Fried] exiting stage left.

I didn't like doing predictions. It's certainly true that right now - and this could change tomorrow - but, right now there is no clear way for Putin to lose power. There seems little chance that a street revolution could unseat him; that's just not how things are going to work in Russia. And it seems as if the very tiny number of people who control the economy and who control politics in Russia are loyal to him.

Putin's survival depends on land grabs of foreign territories. He needs new annexations. The annexation of Crimea has gained him much applause at home. But that will not last forever. The Western sanctions are beginning to take hold and the people are suffering. In order to maintain his popularity, Putin has to commit further international crimes. Otherwise he will be dead politically.

Not much happens in Russian Federation without Vladimir Putin.

If I remember, Russia, 20 or 30 years ago, you'd get shot trying to leave. Today, Russian tourists are all over the world. You have Russian oligarchs with big yachts all over the world.