Russian President Vladimir Putin explained why 25 years ago, in a conversation with the then leader of the country, Boris Yeltsin, he initially stated that he was not ready to be the head of state. The correspondent of VGTRK Pavel Zarubin asked him about the topic.
„For me, firstly, it was unexpected, and secondly, well, maybe, yes, I didn't want to, because I thought I wasn't ready. That was connected with that“, shared the Russian leader. Putin also stressed that there were many "sharp, immediate and at the same time vital issues for the country", as well as for its preservation and development, which required immediate solutions, noting that he had previously thought about what it meant for him to be the head of state.
“But first of all, I thought about how to solve the problems we face. And I thought about whether I would be able to do this, whether I would cope”, he summed up.
In previous interviews, the head of state recalled how Yeltsin invited him to his office and said that he would like to appoint him as prime minister with the prospect of later running for president. Putin, who was then secretary of the Security Council, replied that “this is a very big responsibility” that could change your whole life. He was not sure he was ready for this.
Yeltsin, he said, suggested he think about it, warning that he would return to this issue. The memoirs of the first president of Russia indicate that this conversation took place on August 5, 1999.
On August 9, Yeltsin appointed Putin as acting prime minister and designated him as his successor. And on December 31, Yeltsin announced that he was leaving the high post and Putin became acting president.