Quote

In days of doubt, in days of dreary musings on my country's fate, you alone are my comfort and support, oh great, powerful, righteous, and free Russian language!

To say that you now trust the Russian military command and control system because some Russian general told you from the bottom of his heart that's the case, strikes me as most unrealistic.

We loved being in Russia and would love to go back again, especially to visit my namesake.

I'm very inspired by the artfulness and soulfulness of the Russian people.

Russians aren't perfect. Their politics are messed up, and they keep going through self-defeating economic cycles. But I have a lot of respect for Russia, and a lot of love for Russians.

Although I am losing my Soviet citizenship, I do not cease to be a Russian poet.

I live a very different life now, with incredible privileges, but looking back I realise that growing up in Russia gave me tools that other people don't necessarily have - such as the will to push that bit further, to make things happen, to succeed.

I am also one of those persons who were transformed, who grew out of the Soviet system and transformed myself into the new Russia.

I love the Russians for their verve, their melancholia, their vivacity, their unpredictability, and their humour.