Russian President Putin Holds His Annual Call-In Show

USA Today: At annual call-in show, Vladimir Putin talks Western sanctions, arrested reporter and $390B infrastructure bill

At his annual live call-in show Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin backed a big dose of socialism – a $390 billion spending program – to address an array of complaints by callers unhappy about low wages, pensions, bad roads and crowded hospitals.

More than 1.5 million people sent in their questions by phone, video calls or internet in the tightly choreographed "Direct Line With Vladimir Putin" show. It dealt with a wide range of topics, from wages to Western sanctions to the arrest of a Russian journalist. It was his 17th Q&A show since his first in 2001.

Seated in a theater-in-the-round-style setting, Putin fielded questions from a studio audience and used the opportunity to push his $390 billion National Projects plan, akin to a national infrastructure bill.

He acknowledged up front that Russian workers have gone through lean times in recent years.

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Russian President Putin Holds His Annual Call-In Show

LIVE UPDATES: Russian President Vladimir Putin Holds Annual 'Direct Line' Q&A Session -- Sputnik
Live Blog: Putin Takes Questions In Annual Call-In -- RFE

About 2.2 million questions received for Putin’s televised Q&A session -- TASS
Russian President Putin Holds Annual Q&A Session -- Spuntik
As ratings drop, Putin defends record, says better life awaits Russians -- Reuters
Putin faces gripes in call-in show about living standards -- AP
Putin says Russia is not striving for superpower status -- TASS
Russia, US need dialogue as neither of them can impose its position by force — Putin -- TASS
Putin: ready for Trump talks but U.S. elections could complicate ties -- Reuters
Putin open for talks with Trump, warns against force on Iran -- AP
Putin believes it’s possible to discuss global security, bilateral ties with Trump -- TASS
Russia's Putin says a war between the U.S. and Iran 'would be a catastrophe' -- NBC
We won’t sell out our allies or principles to strike Syria deal with US, says Putin -- RT
Return to Soviet Union unlikely and possible only through conflicts — Putin -- TASS
Putin says Russia continues to be leader in modern weaponry despite military spending cuts -- TASS
We are 'probably the only great military power' to reduce its defense spending, Putin says -- RT
Sanctions cost European economies $240 billion while Russia lost $50 billion – Putin -- RT
Vladimir Putin: Sanctions hurt Europe more than Russia -- DW
Putin on Reported US Attacks on Russian Power Grid: We Are Forced to React -- Sputnik
Putin accuses America of trying to hold back China's development with its 'attack on Huawei' in his annual question and answer session -- Daily Mail
Putin on MH17 downing: Evidence presented against Russia is ‘no proof at all’ -- RT
Putin: Criticism of power has to be free and unimpeded -- RT
Putin vows to liberalize procedures of granting Russian citizenship to Ukrainians -- TASS
Putin agrees life for Russian citizens has become more challenging -- TASS
Putin says no to liberalizing drug laws -- TASS
Putin vows accountability for police officers complicit in Golunov drug scandal -- RT
Millions of Russians have no clean water access, Putin says -- TASS
Putin tells his Q&A session viewers he is not alien -- TASS
Vladimir Putin's Q&A marathon in pictures -- TASS