One of the instructions, issued as a follow-up to the previous meeting with the Federation Council Board in February 2009, concerned the use of Russia's Armed Forces outside the country. The President said that he endorsed the proposed amendments to the law on defence aimed at creating a legal mechanism that would allow the President of Russia to quickly make respective decisions. Such decisions will be made only if absolutely necessary, based on the principle that the citizens of Russia, wherever they are, must feel that their country is there to defend them.
Other directives concerned legislative activities, monitoring anti-crisis measures, ensuring the supply of medicines, and public access to information about the activities of government agencies.
In discussing the preparation of the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, the subjects touched on included the upcoming 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the financial markets, the problems of single industry towns, as well as other economic and legal issues.