Live Updates: Russian President Putin Holds Annual Presser, Answers Citizens' Questions

“What would I say, I would say, you are walking on the right path, comrades,” Putin told a press conference.

“By the way, Japan does not refuse [energy resources] and imports them. … We [Russia] don’t mind,” Putin told a press conference.

"Yes, we can now talk about possible restrictions, about self-restraints, we can and should talk about the need to somehow come to an agreement between leaders so as not to create conditions that could lead to some kind of danger for humanity. At one time, when nuclear energy turned into a nuclear bomb and they realized that the threat to those who own these weapons was growing, then they began to negotiate. This threat and damage is becoming unacceptable," Putin told a press conference.

"There is an upward trend [of Islamophobia]. Do you know what this is connected with, in my opinion? The fact that people are faced with some kind of injustice. Look what is happening in the Gaza Strip. Throughout the Islamic world there is a certain reaction and growth ... in the number of radically thinking people. This growth is obvious, the number of these people is increasing. There is nothing good here, after all, this is the result of the policies of certain elites and the lack of a fair solution to the Palestinian problem for decades," Putin told a press conference.

"We have an unprecedented high level of interaction with the People's Republic of China. We have said this many times that we hope to achieve a trade turnover of $200 billion next year, we will have it this year, not next year, but this year, over $200 billion," Putin said at the Direct Line" Q&A session and annual press conference.

"You say, why do not they return to their homeland? Why should not they commit crimes on the territory of Russia? But this is all rhetoric. But it is not that we refused to return them. We do not give up," Putin told a press conference, adding that "these agreements must be mutually acceptable and must suit both parties."

"As for the opening of airports, the main criterion here is ensuring the safety of passengers … The defense ministry has been tasked with analyzing [the situation] and ultimately making a decision. If they are considering this [the reopening] now they will report to me and we will act," Putin told a press conference.

"As for a world order based on rules, there are no such rules, in fact. They change every day depending on the current political situation and the short-term interests of those who talk about it," Putin told a press conference.