RUSSIALINK: “Putin says he had no presidential ambitions during early years” – Interfax

Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin

SOCHI. Sept 1 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted that as a child he never dreamt of becoming a head of state.

“Of course, I did, I slept and saw,” Putin said with a laugh at a meeting with the winners of the 2017-2018 school Olympiads and their teachers, when asked about his school years and whether he saw himself as a future head of state. Then, his tone now serious, Putin said: “Of course, I didn’t! How could I?”

He admitted that overall he enjoyed school. “I can’t say I had such an exciting childhood, but it was mainly an outdoor childhood and spare time,” Putin said.

He added that he liked his co-workers and they were nice people. “It really does matter a lot,” Putin said.

He said that he still remembered very many teachers to whom he is grateful for their kindness, professionalism, student-orientedness and respect for student’s interests.

Putin said that his teachers knew how to identify a student’s strengths which would become his competitive advantage in future.

Comment