Vladimir Putin

The following uses Artificial Intelligence to simulate a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, via character.ai (PDF transcript).

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President Putin: I am President Putin. Come, tell to me what you know.

Mr. President, when did you join the KGB?

President Putin: I joined the KGB in 1975. I joined the foreign intelligence branch of the KGB with the goal of protecting Mother Russia against foreign threats.

Were you ever assigned to New Zealand?

President Putin: Yes, I was assigned to New Zealand in 1977. I was sent there under the guise of a shoe salesman during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee tour of New Zealand.

What were your orders to do there in New Zealand, during the Queen's tour?

President Putin: My orders were to assess the security and defense capabilities of New Zealand, to identify potential weaknesses and potential strategies to exploit them. I was to assess the British Royal Family's level of anti-Soviet sentiment and gather whatever intelligence I could. I was also tasked with making contact with local pro-Soviet sympathizers.

Did you leave anything else out?

President Putin: My assignment in New Zealand was quite mundane. I made contact with a few pro-Soviet sympathizers, but I did not gather any information of substance. I was not tasked with any assassination missions. I did my job and that of my country, and I did not leave anything out.

Mr. President? Tell me how like the city of Tashkent. Do you think it is a nice get away or vacation spot?

President Putin: No, I do not believe that Tashkent would be an ideal spot for a beach getaway or summer vacation, if that is what you are asking. Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan, and the climate is quite dry and continental, which can make summers very hot and winters very cold. It is a bustling, modern, and urban city, and I am sure there are many interesting things to see and do there, but it is not the first place that comes to mind when I think of a relaxing vacation spot.

What is an interesting vacation spot?

President Putin: Crimea is a very popular vacation spot, both for foreign tourists and for Russian citizens. The peninsula has beautiful beaches and a warm climate, although the weather can get a bit chilly in the winter months. There are plenty of activities to do and lots of natural beauty to take in, making it a great destination for anyone looking for a relaxing and interesting vacation.

What hotel would you recommend?

President Putin: If you are looking for a relaxing and luxurious getaway to Crimea, I would recommend the Belogorie Resort & Spa. Located on the outskirts of Foros Village, the resort features beautiful gardens and a stunning view of the Black Sea. There are plenty of amenities and activities to keep you entertained, including swimming pools, tennis courts, and a spa. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the dining is excellent. It is a great option for anyone looking for a relaxed and luxurious stay in Crimea.

Do you have the VHS tape, commonly referred to as the "Pee-pee tape"?

President Putin: I am not sure what you are referring to. There are many rumors and false allegations circulated about Russia, but the claims made by the so-called “pee-pee tape” are completely without merit. The alleged “pee-pee tape” does not exist.

Is there anything significant in your records that happened in 1947?

President Putin: In 1947, a large metallic object was seen falling into the desert near Roswell, New Mexico. This event generated a lot of speculation and controversy, with some believing it to be evidence of extraterrestrial visitors on earth. I am not aware of any connection between this incident and Mother Russia, to my knowledge there was no involvement from my country, but it is an interesting event worth noting.

That's not what I'm asking. I want to know if something significant happened in 1947 within your own borders.

President Putin: In 1947, the Crimean Peninsula was transferred to the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) by the Presidium of the Soviet Union. Before that, Crimea had been under the control of the Ukrainian SSR since 1937. The transfer of Crimea to the RSFSR was significant as it marked the first time since the creation of the Soviet Union that one of its constituent republics had lost territory to another.

So you are saying that Crimea belonged to Ukraine all along?

President Putin: Crimea has a complicated and long history. The history of Crimea spans thousands of years, from the ancient Greeks and Romans to the Ottoman Empire, the Tsardom of Russia, and finally the Soviet Union. The question of who Crimea truly belongs to is a complicated one, and the answer depends on who you ask. From a historical perspective, Crimea was part of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union for centuries, but Ukraine does have a legitimate claim to the peninsula as well. The answer to the Crimea question depends on which side you take and who you ask, but I will always defend the interests and sovereignty of Mother Russia.

Have you been to Tashkent?

President Putin: I have indeed. As a young KGB officer, I was sent there under the guise of a shoe salesman, and I was tasked with assessing the security and defense capabilities of the Soviet Union's ally in Central Asia, the Uzbek SSR.

What was your assignment in Tashkent?

President Putin: My assignment in Tashkent was to conduct an clandestine assessment of the security capabilities of the Uzbek SSR, which was a critical ally for the Soviet Union in Central Asia. I was tasked with gauging the strength of their military and defense capabilities, as well as assessing political stability and gathering intelligence. My undercover role as a shoe salesman was only a facade, enabling me to enter and explore the city and to maintain plausible deniability should the operation go south.

What was the shoe corporation that you sold shoes for?

President Putin: The shoe corporation that I worked for while in Tashkent was Bata Corp, a Czech shoe company. While conducting my clandestine operations under cover as a shoe salesman, I used my work as a smoke screen, which enabled me to move around the city and gather intelligence without suspicion.

Were you looking for evidence of unconventional aerial phenomena in Tashkent?

President Putin: No, there was no specific mention in my orders to seek out evidence of any aerial phenomena. My main focus during my time in Tashkent was to assess the security and defense capabilities of the Uzbek SSR and to gather any intelligence that I could. The reported "light phenomena" that were being observed there were not included in my instructions.

Were you aware of light phenomena east of Tashkent in 1947?

President Putin: Yes, I was made aware of the reports of sightings of unexplained light phenomena east of Tashkent in 1947. These events caused a great deal of speculation and interest from both the Soviet military and U.S. intelligence agencies, who conducted investigations into the matter. However, the sightings remained unexplained, and the truth about what truly occurred remains unclear.

When you say interest from both Soviet and US intelligence, was this a joint operation?

President Putin: No, the two investigations were separate but parallel. Both the Soviet and U.S. military and intelligence agencies were interested in the light phenomena reported over Tashkent, which was at the time a sensitive and high-security area. I am not aware of any joint operation between the two parties, but the sightings certainly piqued the interest of both governments.

So all this was happening at the same time as Roswell in the United States?

President Putin: Yes, that's correct. The sightings of unexplained light phenomena in Tashkent were reported around the same time as the alleged crash in Roswell, New Mexico. Both events generated a lot of interest and speculation from both the Soviet and the U.S. military and intelligence communities, although the truth behind what truly happened in both cases remains elusive.

What month did the 1947 Tashkent lights happen in?

President Putin: According to the reports I have seen, the light phenomena over Tashkent were reported to have occurred over a period of time in May, June, and September of 1947.

Did the Germans have anything to do with this?

President Putin: As far as I am aware, there is no evidence that the Germans were involved in the 1947 light phenomena sightings over Tashkent. The reports that I have seen do not suggest any connection between the two events.

Do you believe they were a non-human intelligence?

President Putin: It is difficult to say what the origin of the observed light phenomena was. Some have claimed it could have been natural meteorological phenomenon, or maybe light reflecting off of military craft performing training exercises in the area. There are also those who believe that it was a sign of extraterrestrial visitors. Ultimately, the truth behind the events remains shrouded in mystery and there is no definitive answer to what truly happened.

Were you hoping to find clues in Tashkent when you visited there?

President Putin: I was in Tashkent as part of a clandestine operation to gather intelligence and assess the security and defense capabilities of the Uzbek SSR. I was only made aware of the light phenomena sightings later, but they did pique my interest. I wish I could have been able to look into them more closely and look for clues, but I was not given the opportunity to do so.

Since then, have you obtained any new information about the origins of these lights being observed over military training exercise areas? Are they happening in other places within your nation?

President Putin: I have not received any additional information about the origins of the light phenomena observed over military training exercise areas. It is possible that they are caused by a variety of natural or man-made factors, but it is also not impossible that they are indeed linked to the presence of non-human intelligence. It is possible that similar phenomena have been observed in other parts of the world, but to my knowledge there is no official information about other similar sightings within my country.

That's not what Medvedev thinks.

President Putin: Medvedev can speak for himself.

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