MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he would encourage his past self, the incarnation of the year 2000, to keep moving in the right direction and be leery of the West

"I would say: 'You are headed in the right direction, comrade,'" the president said to a question at his combined Direct Line Q&A session and year-end press conference.

He went on to say he would caution himself "against naivety and excessive confidence with regard to <...> the so-called partners" of Russia.

"With respect to advice and instructions: One must believe in the great Russian people. This faith is the key to the success of Russia's revival, evolution and development," he said.