The prime minister has visited the island of Samoilovksy near Tiksi, where a Russian-German expedition has been working for more than 12 years.
The expedition came to the island, located at the delta of the Lena River several kilometres from the arctic Laptev Sea, in 1998 to study the melting Siberian permafrost. They collect methane samples and soil samples in the upper 40 cm layer that is not frozen to determine their influence on the atmosphere.
"I have never been in such high latitudes before," Vladimir Putin said climbing from a helicopter. He was wearing a brand-new arctic suit of wool felt trousers, a shirt and a thick jacket that looked a bit like firefighters' uniform.
He immediately joined the scientists in their work. First he was given an intricate instrument to collect methane samples and then drilled several holes for ice samples. The German scientists told him it was relatively young ice, dating back no more than two or three thousand years. Putin held the pieces of ice for a few moments, expressing his surprise.
"I certainly don't regret coming here," he said over a breakfast of hot cabbage pies. "First, I saw a very good example of international cooperation, and second, the project concerns climate change, a highly important sphere."
After that, Putin turned his attention from thousand-year-old permafrost to the summer's wildfires.
"The results of research are very important to us, as we saw once again during the heatwave this summer, which provoked wildfires in central Russia," he said.
Putin chewed on his pie for a moment, thinking.
"I have seen how quickly the sea advances on the shore," he said. "It is really impressive. However, you haven't told me yet if this change is due to human influence or just happens from time to time because the earth is a living and breathing organism, and hence goes through the cold and warm periods."
The scientists explained that human influence has recently become the dominant factor.
"Well, mammoths started dying off here ten thousand years ago, right?" the prime minister asked. "They say it was due to rising temperatures and loss of the vegetation they needed for sustenance. The mammoths retreated to these islands because of that rather than because of human influence. I'd like scientists here in Russia and elsewhere to predict climate change and tell us in due time to which islands we should retreat."
Everyone laughed as it was clearly a joke, and Putin laughed, too.
"Just let me know when there's going to be a flood or a cold spell, so that I know where to run," the prime minister said.
"We will, if you help us," said Dmitry Dobrynin, a member of the expedition.
"We will certainly help you," Putin replied.
Alexander Gamov