6:50 p.m. — A girl who is celebrating her birthday today asks what Putin thinks about feminism. Putin responds that he sees nothing bad in the feminist movement and recalls his conversation with one of the former presidents of a Muslim country who lamented that girls in his country are barred from education. In Russia, Putin says, the problem is not as serious, but there is a problem that women earn less than men. He quickly adds that the same problem exists in the West.
6:43 p.m. — A girl from Ulan-Ude asks about the problems concerning Lake Baikal. Putin acknowledges that the ecological problems of the world’s largest fresh-water lake by volume are grave, but adds that the government is aware of them and they will be solved.
6:40 p.m. — A boy from Belgorod asks why Putin decided to become president and if he fulfilled his objectives in this role. Putin replies that he didn’t plan on becoming president and it was former President Boris Yeltsin who encouraged him to take up the position, even though initially he turned it down. “Boris Nikolaevich, I am not ready for this. I have to change my life completely for this, and I’m not ready to do that,” Putin says he told Yeltsin. The latter reportedly told Putin to think about it, and ultimately did put him forward as his successor.
6:35 p.m. — The host introduces an orphan boy, saying “He has a dream and only you can be the one to make it come true.” The boy then shyly says that his dream is to see Putin in person. Putin and the boy then take a joint picture.
6:30 p.m. — The hosts now announce the results of a poll on the NTV Vkontakte social media site, asking people what their priorities are. Most respondents, 40 percent, have chosen “family values.” Next in line are “health” (16 percent) and “freedom” (13 percent), followed by love and pay. “Work” is at the bottom of the ranking. “That which matters to you, is also important for the generation that’s on Vkontakte,” the host concludes.
6:21 p.m. — Putin and a boy argue about the demographic situation in Russia, with the boy saying that Russia has a declining population and Putin shooting back, “This is incorrect, that’s not true.” He claims that population growth has been positive since 2015 for the second year in a row.
See also: The Kremlin Needs to Address Russia’s Demographic Crisis
6:12 p.m. — Sixteen-year-old Marina asks Putin to talk about his views on “some opposition persons.” Putin points out that there are currently several dozen political parties in Russia, which, he notes, is not very positive because it diminishes the responsibility of their leaders. The president also mentions “Russia’s neighbors” where a state coup took place, but corruption remained in place.
6:20 p.m. – A boy from the Lipetsk region asks Putin about the biggest problems in agriculture. Putin cites a shortage of seeds and cattle.
