Check out this remarkable conversation between Madeleine Albright and Primakov. This is not too long after Primakov became Prime Minister. After the events of August 1998, Russia was in dire economic straits, and Primakov badly needed to have debts re-scheduled.
Here's he is talking about the basis of the Russian economy ("theft") and lashes out against certain unnamed people who brought Russia to this point. He added that he was fighting corruption and that anything "happened to his family," he "would physically destroy those involved." 
Complaining about the US obstruction of IMF loans, Primakov asks Albright whether perhaps the US was counting in his government to fail so that Gaidar and Chubais return. Says this will never happen. Adds that he's trying to steer a narrow path between chaos and dictatorship.
This highly quotable passage comes amid a discussion on arms control.
The conversation concludes with Albright raising the question of why there is an increase in Russian intelligence activity in the US. Primakov counters by asking why there were more US spies in the CIS.
