Putin: 2×2

Originally published as a gist

Translation of a Russian joke about Putin's answers in his yearly press-conferences.

Q: Vladimir Vladimirovich, what is two times two?

A: I'll be brief. You know, just the other day I was at the Russian Academy of Sciences and had a discussion with many scientists there, including young scientists, all of them very bright, by the way. As it happens, we touched upon the present problem, discussed the current state of the country's economy; they also descibed their plans for the future. Of course, the number one priority for them is the problem of relevancy; also, just as important is the question of housing loans, but I can assure you that all these problems can be solved and we will direct all our efforts to their resolution in the nearest future. Among other things this also applies to the subject you raised in your question.