Women's job is to influence men and produce children...', Putin's controversial statement on Women's Day

Putin on Womens: Russian President Vladimir Putin has once again appealed to the women of his country to have as many children as possible. "Women can change the world with their intelligence, beauty and generosity, but above all, nature has chosen them to bear children," Putin said on International Women's Day.

Putin said, 'Family is the most important thing for any woman, no matter what profession she is in or what heights she has achieved, her important responsibility is to run the family. Becoming a mother is a beautiful moment for a woman.'

"Our focus is on the interests or needs of the family and this is our priority," Putin said in a video message. The President assured that the Russian authorities will do everything possible to help the families in Russia.' Putin highly praised women, saying, 'Being attractive and beautiful, you face many problems and worries. Then how can anyone not admire you?'

Putin has stepped up a campaign to raise Russia's birth rate. Addressing the World Russian People's Council in Moscow in December last year, Putin said, 'The country must return to a time when large families were the norm. Many of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had seven, eight or more children.'