The website of the Bill Clinton Presidential Library contains previously unpublished transcripts of conversations between the former US President and the first Russian President Boris Yeltsin. In a conversation on September 8, 1999, Yeltsin told Clinton that he had chosen Vladimir Putin, who became chairman of the Russian government in August of that year, as his successor .

“It took me a long time to think about who might become the next president of Russia in 2000,” Yeltsin said. “Unfortunately, at that time I could not find a single candidate. Finally, I came across him, Putin, studied his biography, his interests, his acquaintances, and so on. I learned that he is a reliable person who is knowledgeable about the things that fall under his responsibility. At the same time, he is solid and strong, very sociable. And he can easily establish good relationships and contacts with partners.” Yeltsin expressed confidence that Clinton would appreciate Putin as a “highly qualified partner.”

“I am deeply convinced that he will be supported as a candidate [in the presidential elections] in 2000. We are working on this,” noted the first Russian president. In another telephone conversation with Clinton on November 19, 1999, Yeltsin confirmed that Putin would be his successor. “He is a democrat and knows the West well,” Yeltsin said. In turn, Clinton, who by that time had already met with Prime Minister Putin at the APEC summit in Auckland, noted that he was “very smart.”

Yeltsin described Putin as a tough man with an inner core. “I will do everything possible to ensure that he wins [the elections] – within the limits of the law, of course. And he will win,” Yeltsin emphasized. – You will work with him. He will continue Yeltsin’s line on democracy and economic development and expand contacts with Russia. He has the energy and brains to succeed."

Yeltsin publicly announced his resignation from the presidency on December 31, 1999. That day at 9 pm Washington time (in Moscow it was already January 1, 2000), he again spoke by phone with Clinton and stated that he intended to help Putin get used to the international arena and for this purpose will accompany him on trips. Yeltsin again called Putin a democrat, as well as a strong and intelligent man with a broad soul. At the end of the conversation, Clinton promised Yeltsin that he would be “a good partner for Putin.”

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The US declassified conversations between Yeltsin and Clinton about Putin