Some of what Putin has said on the environment:
"I care a lot about pollution, landfills."
Forest preservation "is a serious issue as well. We'll have to change regulations to address this, of course."
"If we don't take care of the forests and green zones, nothing will be left around our cities, because there is nothing easier than just carting everything away."
Putin asks for a question about pensions. Question comes from editor of newspaper Young Leninets in Penza. Asks if there will be reform of the system of early retirement.
Putin does not agree that the West is doing "less than before" to protect the environment. Praises work on the Paris climate-change agreement, although it was a "complex process." Russia, Putin says, undertook tough commitments and will implement them. Says domestically, the environment is one of the most important areas of government work. Putin says he is personally upset by pollution and other environmental issues. Putin says government must change the laws to help preserve forests. "If we don't do this, if we don't take care of the forests and green zones, nothing will be left because there is nothing easier than just carting everything away," Putin says. Putin invites the reporter to attend the government environment meeting.
Reporter asks if he can address government meeting on environment. Says the West doesn't care about the environment anymore and that Russia has now made the environment a top priority. Says there should be ecological programs on state television.
Putin requests a question about the environment.
Regarding alleged interference in U.S. election, Putin says that he never discusses his personal conversations with world leaders. Says the losing side "always looks for excuses" for their failures. Says that hackers did get the email of Democratic leaders, but quotes Trump as saying we don't know who did it. Says the more important point is the content of those emails. Putin speaks in considerable detail about the content of the emails and the conflict between Clinton and Sanders, the resignation of the head of the Democratic National Committee. Putin refuses to confirm that he discussed the election with Obama.
Backing up a bit, on the U.S. elections, Putin said he wants businesslike, constructive relations with both the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump and with the U.S. Democrats.
Putin says there could be a new arms race if either side develops anti-missile systems, again stress that U.S. withdrawal from the ABM is the biggest potential source of a new arms race. Emphasizes again that Russia's military modernization is in complete accord with Russia's international obligations. "We continue to perfect our nuclear triad" including in overcoming any possible missile defense. Says the U.S. and Britain are also modernizing their nuclear weapons. Says Russia is not to blame for any emerging arms race.