Vladimir Putin's press conference at APEC 2013. LIVE UPDATES

Photo: EPA

Vladimir Putin

12:13

"The [existence of] visa requirements within the CIS would mean that we are pushing former Soviet republics away from us. We do not need to push them away. Rather, we need to forge closer relations with them. But we ought to make this process more civilized," Putin said
11:59

US-Syria: "We hope that our Ukrainian friends will also hold consultations with us before taking different steps. Actually, it is not ironic. We have proposed conducting such consultations at the governmental level in order to take a look at all the strong and weak points of the development of relations with our partners outside of the CIS," Putin said
11:59

Russian- Ukranian relations: "We hope that our Ukrainian friends will also hold consultations with us before taking different steps. Actually, it is not ironic. We have proposed conducting such consultations at the governmental level in order to take a look at all the strong and weak points of the development of relations with our partners outside of the CIS," Putin said.
11:58

Vladimir Putin has discussed the Syrian settlement with John Kerry on the APEC summit sidelines."Mostly, our conversation concerned the Syrian situation. We understand what we should do and how. I am pleased that President Obama has taken this stand; the situation must not have been easy for him. He made the decision and it not only helped reconcile positions but also prevented a tragedy in Syria." He said he had discussed that issue with Kerry in addition to the scrapping of chemical weapons in Syria and "further work in this and other fields."
11:57

Speaking about the cancelled meeting with US President Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin said that "our contacts continue through the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry. In my opinion, the situation is quite satisfactory. Of course, there is still a lot to do to make our work more effective, especially in the economy. Our mutual trade has been declining for the second year in a row. Given our vast untapped potential, we still have a lot of work to do. As far as this meeting is concerned, I do not think that meetings should be held just for the sake of meeting. We have been engaged in regular, stable and quite effective work. I am certain that such a meeting will take place when the need arises."
11:55

Ukraine's possible signing of a free trade agreement with the European Union will not influence its political relations with Russia, President Vladimir Putin said. "It may create certain problems for trade and cooperation. Certain damage may be done to the economic sphere but we will not have any problems in the political field, I am certain," he said.
11:55

"Even though the discussion is impassioned and stormy, due to Ukraine's possible signing of an [association] agreement [with the European Union], our banks ten days ago, of course not without my guidance, put together another credit for Ukraine - $750 million, and Gazprom, also not without the guidance of the Russian leadership, went to help Ukraine to pump the necessary gas into gas-storage with a discount, $260 per thousand cubic meters," Putin said during a press conference following the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
11:54

Russian banks put $750 mln credit together for Ukraine, Gazprom gives gas discount - Putin
11:54

Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, should be invited to the Geneva II international conference on Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. "It would be natural," he said at a press conference on Tuesday. The Syrian crisis was discussed during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Putin said. "Obama has made a difficult decision, which will help prevent a tragedy," Putin said, adding that Russia and the United States "have a mutual understanding as to what they should do next and how."
11:51

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded an apology from the Netherlands over the alleged assault and forcible detention by police of a Russian diplomat in the Dutch capital over the weekend.“This is a crude violation of the Vienna Convention. We await clarifications, apologies and the punishment of those guilty,” Putin said, speaking from Bali, where he is attending an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
11:47

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was "very actively" cooperating with international chemical weapons inspectors. "The Syrian leadership has very actively joined this work and is acting in a transparent manner, helping international agencies," Vladimir Putin told reporters at a regional summit in Indonesia.
11:44

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that a meeting with his US counterpart Barack Obama is not a goal in itself, reaffirming, however, his interest in further promoting cooperation between the two countries. "Our contacts continue through the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry. In my opinion, the situation is quite satisfactory. Of course, there is still a lot to do to make our work more effective, especially in the economy. Our mutual trade has been declining for the second year in a row. Given our vast untapped potential, we still have a lot of work to do," Putin said at a press conference on Tuesday. "As far as this meeting is concerned, I do not think that meetings should be held just for the sake of meeting. We have been engaged in regular, stable and quite effective work. I am certain that such a meeting will take place when the need arises," the Russian president said.
11:42

The US and Russia trust the work of experts on Syrian chemical weapons scrapping mission - Vladimir Putin
11:41

The image of a friend instead of the image of an enemy must be created in order to conclude a peace treaty with Japan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Russia has good relations with Japan and bilateral "trade turnover is the same as [Russia has] with China, he said. "This is a good foundation for the peace treaty," Putin said. Journalists asked Putin if he had tried the sake set presented to him by the Japanese prime minister. "We will get to it in Moscow," Putin replied.
11:40

We have agreed with our US partners on what we should do[to resolve the Syrian situation] and how to do so in the medium-term. Doubts about the appropriate reaction of the Syrian authorities to the decisions on their chemical weapons proved unfounded. The Syrian administration has energetically involved itself in this work and its actions are exceedingly transparent. Hopefully, the work will continue at the same pace and in the same fashion," Putin told a press conference after the APEC Bali summit.
11:40

Syria actively engaged in chemical arms scrapping, important not to lose pace - Vladimir Putin
11:39

Syria is 'very actively' cooperates on chemical disarmament - Vladimir Putin
11:35

Russia would 'welcome' Indonesia in Syria peace talks - Vladimir Putin
11:35

Ukraine's possible signing of the agreement with the EU won't affect its political relations with Russia - Vladimir Putin
11:34

Vladimir Putin says that a number of Geneva-2 conference participants should be increased by including a major Muslim country
11:33

Conclusion of the peace treaty with Japan requires creation of an image of a friend, not an image of an enemy - Vladimir Putin
11:32

Meeting with Barack Obama is not a goal in itself, it will be held when necessary - Vladimir Putin
11:31

Russia expects the Netherlands to offer an explanation and punish those who beat the Russian diplomat. The Russia's respond will depend on that - Vladimir Putin
11:30

Meeting with Barack Obama is not a foal in itself, it will be held when necessary - Vladimir Putin
11:29

Doubts about appropriate reaction of Damascus to decision on chemical weapons prove wrong, work should continue at same pace - Vladimir Putin
11:28

Introducing visas with other CIS countries would mean distancing ourselves from these countries, it is necessary to make immigration process civilized - Vladimir Putin