Putin: no other unifying idea except patriotism

Russian President Vladimir Putin assured that there can be no unifying idea in Russia other than patriotism. "Patriotism is our national idea," he said at a meeting with the Leaders Club.

The head of state noted that business, officials and all citizens are working to make the country stronger. "Because every citizen will live better, will have a larger income, will be more comfortable and so on," Putin believes.

The President emphasized that this idea is not an ideology and is not connected with the work of any party or social structure. "It is connected with a unifying principle – if we want to live better, we need the country to be more attractive for all citizens, more effective, and both officials and the state apparatus should become more effective," TASS cited him as saying.

According to Putin, it is not enough for the president or anyone else to speak about this once. "The awareness is needed for this and it should be discussed at all levels," he concluded.