The main event of the third day of the 11th meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi was the closing session with President Vladimir Putin. The atmosphere was calm and open, despite the current political tensions and the Russia-West confrontation. The Russian president said that it corresponded to the spirit of the Valdai Club.

       It was a very important event considering the strained political situation. Many participants said before the meeting that it was the only opportunity for them to find out what was really happening in Russian politics and to learn about the Russian leaders’ plans for the country’s future.

       The closing session began with addresses from President of Russia Vladimir Putin , former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin and former Federal Chancellor of Austria, Wolfgang Schüssel . Their remarks were mostly in line with the discussions held on the previous days. All of them admitted that the world had entered a period of instability and uncertainty, and pointed to the ambiguous role of the West in the creation and erosion of the world order, and highlighted the need to take emergency measures to prevent serious clashes and conflicts.

       Dominique de Villepin said: “A serious dialogue is possible, provided it is based on respect for existing differences and the principles of the countries’ independence and equality.”

       Actually, the idea that all parties should respect the opinions and interests of others dominated the closing session. Wolfgang Schüssel also pointed to the importance of an inclusive dialogue.

       Vladimir Putin, who sharply criticized the West in his opening remarks, also expressed confidence that the situation could be normalized. He said, “I am certain that if there is a will, we can restore the effectiveness of the international and regional institutions system. We do not even need to build anything new from scratch; this is not a “greenfield,” especially since the institutions created after World War II are quite universal and can be given modern substance, adequate to manage the current situation.”

       The second part of the closing session was especially interesting for the experts, because it was held in the Q&A format. They asked many questions, most of them on ways to settle the crisis in Ukraine. President Putin clearly indicated in his answers that he believes in the possibility of a peaceful settlement of the conflict and that it was in Russia’s interests to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

       The experts asked questions that were prompted by the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the President’s Executive Office, Vyacheslav Volodin’s phrase, “Without Putin, there is no Russia,” which provoked heated discussions in the Russian and foreign media. Replying to that question, Putin said: “There is no disputing whatsoever that Russia is my life,” adding that “Russia can of course get by without people like me, though.”

       Other questions concerned the present and future of US-Russian relations, the modernization of Russia, problems in its economic development, and cooperation with its Eastern partners. Unfortunately, the experts could not ask all their questions due to the lack of time.

       In general, the atmosphere at Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the Russian and Western experts was calm and open, despite the current political tensions and the Russia-West confrontation. The Russian president said that it corresponded to the spirit of the Valdai Club. He also expressed hope that “the spirit of Valdai would continue – the free and open atmosphere and opportunity to express very different and candid opinions.”

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.