“You know, when everything is calm, tranquil and stable, we're bored. Well, it's stagnation. We want some commotion,” said the Russian president.

"I asked them how they learned this song, and they said out of respect to the Germans, out of respect to the hosts," Putin said. "Later I was approached by many guests and many people told me they were ashamed that only Russian Cossacks sang in German."

“Let’s imagine that the [the banner of] the 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet represents all the military banners of our guys fighting right now for Russia, for the Motherland, across the line of engagement,” President Vladimir Putin said at his year-end press conference in Moscow, when asked about the pace of the Special Military Operation.

"Honestly, I don't know."

“The number of NATO armored vehicles that Russia has wiped out in its border region of Kursk has exceeded the amount of enemy vehicles destroyed last year," the Russian head of state noted.

“We also speak about raising the responsibility of non-nuclear states who might participate in aggression against the Russian Federation together with nuclear weapons states. And if such a country, like their allies, creates any threat to Russia's sovereignty or to the very existence of Russia, then we believe we have the right to use our nuclear weapons,” President Putin said at his year-end press conference after being asked to comment on the recent changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine.

"I am ready to talk and meet with Trump at any time," he added.