Putin: we will defend our geopolitical interests

Russia will defend its geopolitical interests, and other countries must understand and treat our decision with respect. This opinion was expressed by Vladimir Putin in an interview for the film "President" on the Russia 1 TV channel.

"It was necessary for our partners to understand that a country like Russia has its own geopolitical interests," he said, recalling the state of the country after the collapse of the USSR. "And we need to respect each other, seek a balance, look for mutually acceptable solutions,"  the head of state said.

"I was working in the KGB's foreign intelligence for almost 20 years, and even to me it seemed that with the fall of the ideological barriers here in the form of the Communist Party monopoly on power, that everything would change dramatically," he said. "No. It has not changed dramatically! Because, it turns out – and here simple things do not come immediately – there are geopolitical things, which are not connected with any ideology," Putin said.