Website of the President of Russia: President: Transcripts

Ceremony to present state decorations

2026-04-23T12:10:09+04:00

The ceremony to present state decorations to the winners of world boxing championships and representatives of the Russian Boxing Federation took place in the Kremlin’s St Catherine Hall.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends,

I am delighted to see you. Russia’s best boxers, winners of international tournaments are gathered here today.

Both our male and female teams dominated the world championships in 2025 in the team rating. Our professionals have also excelled in their competitions.

It gives me sincere joy and pleasure to congratulate all of you on this success. Your performances and results are a significant contribution to Russia's efforts to assert its leadership in world sport, a position it holds firmly despite unscrupulous attempts to undermine it.

The disgraceful and, frankly, cowardly, politically motivated behaviour of the former leadership of the International Olympic Committee has caused enormous damage to the Olympic movement and to the very principles of Olympism. The selective sanctions against Russian athletes, imposed under the pretext of condemning Russia's actions to protect our people and our interests in the conflict in Ukraine, while ignoring numerous similar and equally tragic armed conflicts around the globe, have only exposed the corruption and political bias of a significant part of international sports officials.

I hope that the new leadership of the IOC and international sports organisations turn their backs on this legacy as quickly as possible. Their predecessor left them a burdensome and, as I have already said, disgraceful legacy. I am confident that many more sporting triumphs lie ahead for you and your fellow athletes across various sports disciplines, including at major international competitions, and that these victories will take place under our national flag, and to the accompaniment of the Russian national anthem.

Russia is gradually returning to the global sporting arena and doing so with dignity. Our swimmers, fencers, canoeists, gymnasts, judokas and wrestlers all delivered outstanding performances in the past sporting season.

But, of course, the truly exceptional achievement – without exaggeration – was the Russian Paralympic Team’s triumph in Milan. As you know, they secured third place in the overall team standings with a squad that was several times smaller – indeed, several times smaller – than those of their main competitors. This is an outstanding result. These victories were achieved not by numbers, but by skill, talent and determination.

Our junior athletes are also a source of pride, across a wide range of sports.

The state will, of course, continue to develop the sports sector in all its dimensions, ensuring broad opportunities for participation in elite, professional and grassroots sport, and actively promoting sport, above all among children and young people. As we all know, sport is not just about physical strength and agility; it is a way of life built on the values of health, mutual respect, which is very important, determination and responsibility.

Friends, once again, I warmly congratulate you all on your achievements and on receiving state decorations. I wish you success and many more victories – to you, your teammates, your coaches and your mentors.

All the best to you, and congratulations.

(Ceremony for presenting state decorations.)

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Friends,

Once again, I congratulate you on your state decorations – well-deserved state decorations. One of the recipients just said that you fought and brought home medals in the name of, and for, the Motherland, for Russia. For its part, the Motherland, Russia, will do everything to support you.

Yes, this may seem like a traditionally male sport, but I am pleased to note that our ladies are also performing at the very highest level. And life goes on, and what is especially pleasing: just before we entered this hall, I was quietly told that one of you is expecting a child, which is particularly wonderful news. I hope you will be a happy mother and will also contribute to another vitally important priority for the country: demographic development.

I wish you happiness, wellbeing and good health. Once again, congratulations on your achievements.

Thank you very much!

Meeting with municipal officials

2026-04-21T21:30:20+04:00

Vladimir Putin held a meeting with municipal officials.

The meeting took place on Local Self-Government Day, which is observed annually on April 21.

The discussion addressed issues important to residents of municipalities of all sizes – from small villages and towns to regional capitals. Particular attention was given to major programmes such as Integrated Territorial Development, Creating a Comfortable Urban Environment, and Integrated Rural Development. Participants also highlighted what one speaker described as “small matters of great significance for the people,” including free or subsidised connection of households to gas pipelines, maintenance of water supply systems in small communities, and the preservation of cultural heritage sites in small historic towns.

The discussion also addressed the role of municipal workers in efforts to integrate the historical territories of Donbass and Novorossiya into Russia’s economic, cultural, and professional landscape. The President emphasised that all levels of government – federal, regional, and municipal – must work tirelessly towards reaching the set objective – to bring these new regions up to the national standards by 2030.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

We meet regularly in various formats – I mean representatives of the municipal community. In this broader format, perhaps not as often as we would like to, but still on a consistent basis: this is already the third year in a row that we have held this annual event. I hope it is meaningful for you as well, for it certainly is significant for me, because you engage directly with the people. This is an additional channel of communication with the country’s citizens, which is extremely important.

I hope you will share your assessments of the government’s actions and their effectiveness – what measures taken by the federal government are working and are truly needed, and what aspects of our joint efforts require further improvement. We will also listen to your ideas and advice as to how best to convey these positions to the deputies of the State Duma.

I know that Ms Valentina Matviyenko, Irina Guseva, co-chair of the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government, as well as colleagues from the Government and the Presidential Executive Office, have already spoken here.

Nevertheless, even after these meetings, you may still have additional points you would like to share with me. I am at your disposal.

<…>

Service nationwide municipal award ceremony

2026-04-21T21:27:12+04:00

On Local Self-Government Day, Vladimir Putin addressed the 3rd All-Russian Municipal Forum Small Homeland – the Strength of Russia and took part in a ceremony to present the Service municipal award to the winner of the ”Courage and Heroism in Service to the Motherland“ category.

The award was presented to Yevgeny Filonov, principal of the Serpeisk Secondary Comprehensive School, a deputy of the Meshchovsk Municipal District in the Kaluga Region and a veteran of the special military operation.

Established in 2023 on the President's instructions, the Service municipal award recognises outstanding achievements by municipal officials in improving the quality of life of their constituents.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

The All-Russian Municipal Forum, Small Homeland – the Strength of Russia, is an important event for our country. It brings together heads of districts and regions, representatives of public organisations, rural and urban settlements, municipal employees, and members of municipal councils.

I also extend a warm welcome to representatives of the international municipal community attending the forum. It is encouraging to see your cooperation continue to grow and strengthen. I sincerely wish all participants productive discussions, success, and fruitful future cooperation.

Friends,

Today we celebrate Local Self-Government Day. There are many professional holidays and festive events – today included – but Local Self-Government Day holds special significance for our country. It matters not only to those working in this field, but also to everyone gathered here, and to all citizens. After all, it ensures direct engagement with people and helps address the most urgent, sometimes immediate, yet critically important issues.

A special word of appreciation goes to municipal teams working in our historical territories – the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, as well as border and other areas exposed to terrorist attacks. The courage of those who, despite risks to their health and lives, continue to work selflessly is an example for the entire country. Among the finalists are individuals who have endured these difficult challenges. Thank you.

Colleagues, your work in every constituent entity of Russia takes a great deal of strength, time and energy. People bring their concerns and needs to you. The atmosphere in all cities and villages, and the mood and sentiments of the people depend on your efforts to deal with problems promptly and on your attentive and thorough approach to their requests.

It is important to remember that we all work to strengthen the country's sovereignty and security, and to ensure its sustainable and independent development. Government officials at all levels are essentially a single team, and municipal officials form this team's foundation. For citizens, you represent the face of the entire public administration system. It is at the local level that people’s confidence in the future is shaped, and thus the foundation is laid for our continued progress and for Russia's development.

Colleagues,

Your forum, which is being held for the third time, has become a respected platform for discussing current issues. One of its highlights is the celebration of the best members of municipal authorities, the winners and laureates of the municipal award Service.

The veterans of the special military operation have moved from the battlefield to the forefront of municipal service. Their readiness to take responsible decisions can enhance the effectiveness of municipal authorities. They are working successfully in various positions, doing a great deal to support their comrades-in-arms who are on the frontline and those who have returned home wounded, as well as their families and the relatives of our heroes who have given their lives for our Motherland.

The experience of veterans of the special military operation is extremely important for socially significant projects and initiatives. You are aware of the Time of Heroes federal programme and similar regional personnel projects. I hope that thanks to these programmes local self-governments will have more new leaders, real leaders who understand and are aware of people’s needs and are doing everything in their power to resolve these problems.

I would like to remind you that we will hold State Duma elections next autumn. The residents of our four historical reincorporated regions will participate in them for the first time.

We understand that these elections will be held in complicated conditions, and that our opponents, or more precisely, our adversaries, above all external ones, will try to use every possible method to split and destabilise Russian society. I am confident that all these attempts will be foiled, and that our voters will opt for constructive political programmes and ideas, for patriots and people of action.

This year, 2026, has been declared the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia. Together, we must preserve and strengthen this unique heritage. Given the vital role of local communities in this process, the award has been expanded to include a new category: Unity of the Peoples of Russia – Strength of the Country.

There are many examples in our history of how unity has secured the Fatherland’s great victories and achievements. Today, we clearly understand that the most important thing is to stand together. Only through unity can we achieve our goals in the special military operation, and through solidarity and personal responsibility – each doing their part – we will achieve the country’s strategic priorities and ensure its long-term development.

I would also like to touch upon another issue that I know concerns municipalities. It may be a technical matter, but it is nonetheless very important. A law on regulatory and supervisory activities in relation to municipalities has recently been signed. I want to emphasise this: while we must always act in the interests of the people – those interests must unquestionably be protected – regulatory and supervisory bodies should not act in a purely formal manner or, as they say, go too far. The objective is not to generate statistics on penalties, but to resolve the real problems people face.

In this regard, I would like to draw the attention of regulatory and supervisory authorities, as well as the judicial community and bailiffs, to the importance of taking into account the full range of circumstances in which we live and work. This includes situations where there are objective obstacles to the exercise of certain powers, including financial constraints.

We all understand very well – especially you who are working on the ground – that in practice we sometimes have to rely on resources not enshrined in existing regulations, to operate under financial limitations, and to address inconsistencies in legislation. Life is complex and constantly evolving; as lawyers say, by the time a law is adopted, it is already outdated. Reality always runs ahead of formal rules.

(Applause.)

You are required to make prompt decisions that directly affect people’s lives. While it is important to comply with regulations, nothing is more important than people’s lives and health. Supervisory, oversight, and judicial authorities must take these realities into account.

Let me remind you that the Constitutional Court of Russia has supported precisely this approach. I therefore ask supervisory, law enforcement, and judicial bodies to be guided by it in their enforcement and judicial practice.

(Applause.)

Colleagues,

Local governance means people, their activism and desire to go the extra mile to improve our citizens’ lives. We must support these initiatives as much as we can. Today I am delighted to launch the new season of the national poll on projects for a comfortable urban environment.

This contest has become a true catalyst for positive changes. Last year, more than 1,600 municipal entities participated, and over 16.5 million people voted online. As you know, we allocate 25 billion rubles for the best projects from the federal budget every year.

This mechanism allows residents to influence their cities’ appearance directly, and therefore, their voices must be heard. Public polls also determine the winners of the Service award. The number of poll participants constantly grows, exceeding 1.5 million people this year. Your hard work resonates with people. Once again, we deeply appreciate it.

We can proceed with the ceremony now.

(The awards ceremony begins.)

Service award winner Yevgeny Filonov: Mr President, friends.

It is a great honour for me to be on this stage, not only as a deputy of the Meshchovsky District of the Kaluga Region but also as a person who took up arms to defend my home region – and it is what we are talking about today.

This forum is about people, about the home front that our troops are defending, and about our future.

I want to thank my fellow countrymen, Kaluga residents, my brothers-in-arms, and my students, who, I know, are watching TV now, for their support in this contest.

Mr President, thank you for supporting local initiatives and projects and inspiring us with your example to serve the Motherland. Thank you very much.

I serve the Kaluga Region and Russia. Victory will be ours!

Vladimir Putin: Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to the winners.

Soon, we will be celebrating another anniversary of the Soviet people’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Just now, our biggest laureate, who stood on this stage next to his comrades, spoke about the home front.

You know, it occurred to me that during the Great Patriotic War, the entire home front laboured for the front, for our soldiers and defenders. They manufactured tanks, aircraft, artillery guns and munitions, but their efforts did not stop there. During the harshest months of the Great Patriotic War, the cold winter of 1941–1942, much like today, Soviet children, grandmothers and other women knitted socks and sent small packages and gifts to the front. Why didn’t they do it in Germany? German soldiers froze to death as they reached Moscow. And no socks were coming from Germany.

This unity determines our success and victories. This unity sustains us today. Congratulations, thank you and good luck.

I will meet with some of our colleagues shortly.

Congratulations and my best wishes.

Meeting with members of the Central Election Commission

2026-04-02T11:54:44+04:00

Vladimir Putin met with members of the Central Election Commission

The President also spoke with Chairperson of the Central Election Commission Ella Pamfilova.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, first of all, congratulations on the start of your work in your new composition.

I hope that both the experienced members of the Central Election Commission and those newly appointed to such responsible roles will work closely as a well-coordinated team, setting a high bar for the almost one million colleagues working hard in election commissions across our vast country.

Competitive and democratic elections are the mandatory and irreplaceable constitutional instrument, essential for forming strong and capable governance. They are always important, and as I often say these days, they are two or three times more important for us under current conditions. Elections build our people’s confidence in the state and form the basis of direct public engagement in state governance and in the formation of governance bodies. Consequently, they foster public trust in the administration, political stability, and the continuity of our sovereign development.

At the same time, there are many aspects that depend specifically on you, so that every citizen understands the significance and the impact of their vote, and so that they can be certain of the legitimacy of the overall result.

This year poses some extremely serious challenges for you. In addition to many regional and local campaigns, there will be elections to the ninth convocation of the State Duma. Only the people of Russia, and no one else, can decide who the newly elected deputies will be. But, of course, and I want to repeat this, the public’s confidence in these institutions will also depend on the quality of your work. I must stress: no one, no external forces, will be given a single chance to interfere with or influence the course of the public vote, and especially its outcome. We will intercept any attempts to use the elections to destabilise our society.

I have set respective tasks for the Russian law enforcement agencies. I hope that election commission workers will ensure strict adherence to Russian legislation, and demonstrate objectivity, integrity and professionalism.

I ask you to focus specifically on security and maintain continuous contact with the Interior Ministry, the National Guard and other agencies.

In Donbass, Novorossiya and our border regions, we must take advantage of the unique election experience gained over the course of the special military operation.

I would like to once again express my gratitude to your colleagues who are working under extremely challenging conditions, in close proximity to combat zones. Despite ongoing shelling, provocations and personal threats they regularly face – which, regrettably, have become routine – they continue to carry out their duty to the people of Russia with courage.

The citizens who came out to vote also showed resilience and a strong Russian character. As I have mentioned earlier, people were literally queuing at polling stations, even with shells and drones operating nearby.

There is another important point worth highlighting. An increasing number of combat veterans, who are true participants and heroes of the special military operation, are seeking to continue serving Russia and to prove themselves in civilian life, including by pursuing roles in elected positions. I ask that you support your colleagues locally in assisting these candidates by ensuring that all necessary documentation is processed promptly and accurately, along with the completion of other pre-election procedures.

Furthermore, the Central Election Commission now includes a member with combat experience. I am confident he will offer valuable guidance on how best to support fellow servicemen who plan to run in elections to the Duma and at other levels. Isn’t that right, Mr Sysoyev?

Member of the Central Election Commission Anatoly Sysoyev: Absolutely.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Sysoyev has been appointed to the Central Election Commission under the presidential quota.

I am aware that all parliamentary parties are giving significant attention to these matters. While they naturally compete with one another – a normal and healthy dynamic – they are also united by a shared objective of the utmost national importance: boosting human resources potential by involving capable and battle-experienced individuals who have demonstrated genuine loyalty to the Motherland in government institutions, public organisations and mentorship systems.

Colleagues, our modern electoral system has been in development for over 30 years. It has undergone a complex process of establishment, steady advancement and substantial modernisation, with due account of national interests, voters’ expectations, and the latest technologies and technological capabilities.

Our priorities and principles are evident. They are aimed at ensuring equal conditions for candidates, fair competition, and unquestionable election outcomes, and focus on safeguarding the process from manipulation and unlawful interference, including cyber threats, while expanding accessibility and making voting as convenient as possible for citizens. I would like to thank you, as well as the previous members of the Central Election Commission, for your extensive and thorough efforts in this regard.

As an independent and professional authority, the Central Election Commission must continue to guarantee the reliability and effectiveness of our electoral system. It should consistently look ahead and focus on its development and future improvements, while maintaining its status as an advanced, transparent, open, and robust system, rightly regarded as one of the best in the world. This recognition is well deserved and must be preserved.

I wish you every success. Thank you very much.

<…>

Plenary session of RSPP Congress

2026-03-27T15:27:55+04:00

Vladimir Putin took part in the 35^th Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, Mr Shokhin, friends,

I welcome all participants and guests of the 35^th Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. This event traditionally brings together owners and senior executives of major domestic companies and, naturally, attracts the attention of the entire Russian business community.

Many of those present in this hall meet with me regularly to discuss the most pressing issues facing your companies. Some of you work directly and regularly with the Government of the Russian Federation and officials of the Presidential Executive Office. Therefore, as they say, we are all well-versed in the subject, and I will not be announcing anything revolutionary today. Nevertheless, Mr Shokhin considers it appropriate to hold such meetings – they do not often take place on such a large scale – and there is likely some merit in doing so to reinforce certain key points. Indeed, the format of the Congress allows for discussions on current issues that play a crucial role in conducting business, improving the investment climate, formulating ideas, and outlining directions for further cooperation between the state and the business community.

The format of the Congress provides an opportunity to address pressing issues vital for business operations and the investment climate, as well as to generate ideas and set directions for future collaboration between the state and the business community.

We have built a constructive, results-driven dialogue with the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and other business associations, on the one hand, and with government bodies and civil society institutions, on the other hand. This dialogue has proven its value over time. As Mr Shokhin noted, our collaboration has been particularly active during significant periods, including the challenging years at the end of the last century and the efforts to relaunch the domestic economy at the start of the new one.

Mutual trust and close cooperation between the state and the business community are especially crucial today, as uncertainty – and even stress – has risen sharply across the globe and in international markets.

We are all well aware of the events of 2014, when Russia – indeed, we – were forced, as I have repeatedly stated, to take all necessary measures to protect our people in Crimea and later in southeastern Ukraine more broadly. Following that, illegal sanctions were imposed. I want to stress that these sanctions are unlawful, as they were never endorsed by United Nations resolutions. Today, the armed conflict in the Middle East is adding further strain to the situation, inflicting significant damage on international logistics, production, and supply chains. Entire sectors, including the extraction and processing of hydrocarbons, metals, fertilisers, and numerous other goods and commodities, have been severely affected.

The full impact of the conflict in the Middle East remains difficult to predict. I suspect even those directly involved in the conflict cannot foresee its course, and for us, the uncertainty is even greater. Nevertheless, we must operate within the reality shaped by these events. Some assessments have already begun to compare their effects to the coronavirus pandemic, which, let me remind you, dramatically slowed development across every region and continent without exception.

It is no coincidence that comparisons are being made with the recent pandemic. As evidenced by the events the global community has faced in recent years, turmoil in trade, investment, and international relations more broadly is occurring more and more often, becoming a new reality that goes hand in hand with the transition of the entire global economy to a new state.

To meet the challenges of our time, Russia must be strong – we discuss this privately on a regular basis. It also needs to be united in its understanding of national interests, in addressing the tasks before us, and in achieving our strategic development goals.

Despite the objective challenges and artificial restrictions imposed on our country, we have succeeded in maintaining macroeconomic stability, with inflation and unemployment remaining at sustainable and predictable levels. Together with the business community, we continue to work toward fostering economic growth and addressing social issues.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the members of the Union, as well as to the teams of your companies and enterprises, for your daily and significant contributions to strengthening Russia’s potential and supporting regional development. Above all, thank you for standing by our soldiers, our heroes – the participants in the special military operation – and their families. I know that many of you are actively involved in these efforts and closely monitor these issues. Your work has been invaluable in supporting the economic revival of Donbass and Novorossiya.

Let me stress once again: it is this form of partnership that is crucial for addressing today’s extraordinary challenges and for charting a path toward sustainable and lasting growth for our domestic economy amid global transformations, which bring not only risks but also opportunities, particularly for exporters.

Today, as the prices of our traditional exports rise amid turbulent markets, one might be tempted to take advantage of the situation and to pursue opportunistic profits, channel them into dividends, or, in the case of the state, inflate budget expenditures and government spending.

I spoke about this publicly before, but I want to reiterate it here: we must remain reasonable and prudent. Markets that have swung in one direction today can move the opposite way tomorrow. You are perfectly aware – as this audience are highly knowledgeable and experienced – that a measured, conservative approach is essential, both in business and in public finance. We will continue to uphold this principle in our budgetary policies, honouring our commitments to the citizens of the country.

At the same time, it is important to maintain the country’s trajectory of progressive development, enhance the competitiveness of our domestic economy, and strengthen the standing of Russian enterprises and companies on both international and domestic markets.

To achieve this, we must reinforce our national sovereignty. I believe there is no doubt today about what sovereignty means nowadays, what it is worth, and what consequences await the countries that at one point voluntarily gave it up, hoping it would bring peace, lower costs, and better conditions for economic and social development. The reality is different: without sovereignty, it is impossible to safeguard fundamental national interests. This principle applies across all sectors, including the development of transport, logistics, and financial infrastructure. As you know, national projects with respective objectives have already been launched.

Separately, it is those who invest in technological innovations and constantly work to improve their efficiency at a qualitatively new level that succeed in the modern world, on the global markets. Mr Shokhin mentioned these areas earlier, and I will also say a few words on the matter.

We will continue to provide incentives for business investments in the modernisation of enterprises and production capacities based on our own technological base. We will particularly support the implementation of solutions in three key cross-cutting technologies: artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and digital platforms.

There is scope for cooperation with foreign states in this work, including those from rapidly growing regions of the world, such as the Asia-Pacific region and Southern Eurasia. We plan to develop such cooperation, as has also been mentioned today, primarily through BRICS.

Only recently, in February, the National Committee for Business Cooperation within BRICS was established. I understand its first meeting was scheduled for today, was it not, Mr Shokhin? I urge Russian businesspeople, members of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, to actively engage in the Committee’s work, jointly prepare proposals for the development of economic ties within BRICS and the launch of new, modern projects with partners in science, innovation, industry, agriculture, infrastructure, and logistics.

Naturally, to finance capital investments, it is essential to enhance the availability of credit and other instruments, as we all are well aware, including venture capital mechanisms and the opportunities offered by the stock market. The Government, together with the Central Bank, is making consistent progress in this direction. Proposals from the business community are obviously indispensable here.

To increase investment and expand the space for business initiative, we will continue to reduce costs for enterprises and organisations and remove administrative barriers – something we constantly discuss – including through the use of electronic services.

For instance, over the past five years, the process of obtaining more than four hundred licences and permits has been optimised and digitised. These procedures have become more straightforward and convenient, with their average processing times more than halved. This is a good indicator, after all.

The same reduction of red tape and paperwork must be carried out in the budgetary sphere. In healthcare and education, it is necessary to streamline reporting and other documentation so that doctors, teachers, and educators can devote more time to patients, schoolchildren and students. We often discuss this as well. Progress is being made, albeit gradually. However, it must be acknowledged that this is most noticeable in Moscow.

The supervision and control system is undergoing transformation through the adoption of advanced technological solutions. Since 2019, basically a fundamentally new regulatory framework has been introduced, with uniform rules and principles aimed at increasing transparency and overall effectiveness in this sphere.

All stages of inspections have been digitised and integrated into a unified information system. The number of inspections has decreased, but their effectiveness has improved. Meanwhile, the very purpose of inspections is changing: while previously regulatory bodies focused on identifying violations, now the emphasis is on their prevention, including through the use of artificial intelligence. Colleagues, please note that this reflects the essence of a risk-based approach as an element of a modern, globally competitive economy.

I have repeatedly spoken about Russia’s progress in international business rankings. These results do not only reflect expert evaluations but also the assessments of entrepreneurs themselves regarding the ease of doing business and operating in Russia, in our markets.

Nevertheless, the business environment requires constant improvement. We are carrying out this work systematically, with the active involvement of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and other business associations. For example, the Government has approved the National Model of Targeted Business Conditions until 2030. It outlines priority areas for action, including specific efforts on the legislative, political level that need to be taken to simplify business operations and improve the investment climate.

The initial results of the National Model will be reviewed shortly, ahead of the upcoming St Petersburg International Economic Forum. The agenda will also include discussion of a unified system for supporting investment projects, providing comprehensive and professional assistance to both domestic and foreign investors throughout the entire project lifecycle, with our leading development corporation, VEB.RF, playing an active role in it.

I would also like to note that business owners and shareholders are focusing on environmental well-being of their cities and regions, the quality of life of their employees, and the development of local communities.

I know that many of you are already consistently engaged in this effort, and I would like to express my gratitude for this. This is an essential component of our joint work and of the broader development of the country.

The RSPP regularly reviews the results of the Leaders of Russian Business contest. I know that the number of winners is growing, which means that a desire to improve life not only at enterprises but also around them is gaining momentum in business practice.

I would like to congratulate the winners and to say that the number of initiatives that really benefit people must increase. In this connection, I would like to mention a project to preserve our cultural heritage – estates, historical buildings and houses. By 2030, we plan to renovate and bring at least a thousand of such facilities into economic operation. We must give a new lease on life to unique monuments of architecture and art, saving them for future generations. I would like you to take note of this and to join these efforts. The expenses will be negligible, while the outcome will be important for the culture of our country and its future.

This year, a low-interest loan programme has been launched in all regions to finance such projects. I invite both small and medium-sized businesses, as well as big business, to take advantage of this opportunity, especially in the regions where these enterprises operate.

At the same time, I would like to ask the Government, VEB and our colleagues in the regions to harmoniously integrate support for projects to renovate cultural heritage facilities into the regional investment standard system. As you know, such standards have been introduced in all entities of the Russian Federation.

Friends,

Russia has a rich history. The unity of our society and working hard together to make our country stronger, more stable and powerful in terms of economic potential have always been an earnest of our progressive development throughout the ages.

We must not only launch large and ambitious economic projects that are important for industry as a whole, but also small but significant initiatives. The owners of enterprises and companies and their personnel must be aware of the long-term outcomes of their work. They must be open to technological innovations, encourage their implementation, and compete both in the domestic market and abroad.

We will work together and do our utmost to fulfil these tasks, to ensure the successful development of the national economy and hence our country as a whole.

I would like to thank you for your work and to convey our best wishes and gratitude to your personnel.

Thank you.

Ceremony for presenting Presidential prizes to young culture professionals and for works for children

2026-03-26T12:10:49+04:00

A ceremony to present the 2025 Presidential Prize for Young Culture Professionals and the 2025 Presidential Prize for Works and Projects for Children and Young People was held in the Kremlin’s St Catherine Hall.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends,

I am delighted to welcome you here, in the Kremlin: you are the winners of the prizes for young culture professionals and for works and projects for children and young people.

The presentation of these prizes traditionally coincides with Culture Worker’s Day. I congratulate everyone working in this sphere, which is of utmost importance for our society, for our citizens, and for our state, and I wish you success, inspiration, and new significant achievements. These will undoubtedly come. Proof of this is your dedication to your craft and your constant pursuit of excellence, as well as the heights you have reached in art and education.

For the group of young vocalists – Alina Chertash, Polina Shabunina, and Igor Morozov – such a height has been achieved through their performance of leading roles in Sergei Prokofiev’s opera Semyon Kotko.

Friends, you have brilliantly mastered the intricate musical language of this piece and have contributed significantly to the success of the production itself. There is no doubt that a great creative future awaits you.

Among the awardees is the theatre director of the Krasnoyarsk Young Spectator’s Theatre chief Abulkatinov. He skilfully and subtly combines the traditions of Russian theatrical art with contemporary artistic possibilities, conducts extensive educational work, and helps aspiring colleagues find their creative path.

Another recipient of the prize for young culture professionals is Vladislav Miller. His performances are imbued with candour and intensity. Each new role played by this actor becomes a genuine event in the country’s theatrical life.

An example of the continuity of traditions and mastery is the Popov Grand Children’s Choir. For more than half a century, the choir has played an important role in nurturing young talents, the future stars of Russian culture.

This is largely due to the efforts of Merited Artist of Russia Anatoly Kislyakov. Under his leadership, this renowned ensemble has preserved its traditions and continues to thrive. Anatoly Kislyakov’s work has been honoured with the prize for works and projects for young people.

The prize in this category has also been awarded to Children’s Radio. Among Russian media, it holds a special place. The radio channel does not merely entertain – though that in itself is already good, even excellent – it also educates its young audience, fostering in them an interest in history, books, and creativity. Above all, it is simply loved and eagerly listened to by our youngest and most important citizens – boys and girls.

The prize for contribution to the upbringing of school students has also been awarded to the Museum of the History of Military Uniforms. It is one of the most beloved museum venues for children and adults alike, offering everything for children and parents: from a museum for toddlers to a children’s summer camp, a young historian’s club, interactive classrooms, and a chess school.

Friends,

All your creative work is built on genuine talent, immense diligence, and civic responsibility. It affirms the best qualities of our great national culture: compassion, pursuit of justice, boundless love for the homeland, and the aspiration for our children to be better than we are.

Your success, friends, is undoubtedly a contribution to Russia’s future. I congratulate you and wish you new accomplishments and all the very best.

Thank you for your attention.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Friends,

Once again, I congratulate you on receiving your awards today.

One of the participants in the ceremony said that work in itself is a source of inspiration. I would like to respond by saying that your work and the results you achieve are undoubtedly a source of inspiration for the entire country, as is the work of your colleagues. Art strengthens and advances the country, creating the conditions for its security and economic development. Culture lies at the heart of our shared national identity, and it is this that forms the foundation for Russia’s future.

Thank you very much. Congratulations.

Presentation of state decorations to the winners and medalists of the 14th Paralympic Winter Games

2026-03-20T10:44:55+04:00

Vladimir Putin presented state decorations of the Russian Federation to the winners and medalists of the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, at the Kremlin.

The Games took place in Italy from March 6 to 15, 2026. The Russian team, comprising six athletes and one sighted guide, competed in three disciplines – cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, and snowboarding – and won a total of 12 medals: eight gold, one silver, and three bronze, securing third place in the overall team standings.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends,

I am truly delighted to congratulate you – our national Russian team – on an extraordinary performance at the 14th Winter Paralympics.

You did more than just achieve exceptional results. Many would agree that your participation in the Games marked one of the most remarkable chapters in the history of Paralympic sport. Competing against some of the world’s best athletes, you won 12 medals and secured a top-three finish – all with a team of just six athletes and one guide. By comparison, the teams that placed first and second were more than ten times the size of ours.

You have shown both Russia and the world what it truly means to fulfil the lofty mission of a Paralympic athlete. That mission – and its well-known slogan – is “to inspire and excite the world.” And that is exactly what you did. Millions were captivated by your performances, inspired by your determination, resilience, and will to win.

You also brought the most powerful, heartfelt emotions to Russian fans, giving them genuine reasons to cheer and celebrate your achievements. For the first time in 12 years, we saw our beloved Russian flag raised above the Paralympic podium and heard our national anthem with a special sense of pride and emotion – thanks to you. You have made the return of Russia’s key national symbols to the international stage truly triumphant, without exaggeration.

Skier Anastasia Bagiyan demonstrated outstanding performance. Together with her guide, Sergei Sinyakin, you left no chance to your competitors and ascended to the top step of the podium three times.

Varvara Voronchikhina displayed exceptional skill. The youngest member of our team, she opened the tally of victories for the Russian national team at the Games, securing medals in every discipline she competed in. Two golds, a silver, and a bronze in alpine skiing – this is simply splendid, a magnificent debut.

The Games were also triumphant for Ivan Golubkov – he twice proved his undisputed leadership in sit-ski races. We all know that Ivan has publicly declared that these victories are dedicated to Russia, to his country.

The most experienced athlete on our team, alpine skier Alexei Bugayev, brought a fitting conclusion to our team’s performance. By claiming two bronzes and the long-awaited gold medal, he propelled our team to what seemed an impossible third place in the overall standings.

Friends,

Your energy, focus on results, self-belief, and relentless training have led to a significant and meaningful success – both personal and on the scale of our vast country. Your performances and victories, your journey to success – these are a shining example of how one can and must overcome any life circumstances, always maintaining dignity and optimism, resilience and composure, and remaining true to one’s principles, traditions, and convictions.

Special words of gratitude go to those who have guided you towards victory for many years – your coaches. Under pressure and restrictions, and without adequate competitive practice, they have upheld the highest standards of the national coaching school, the very foundation of our Fatherland’s numerous sporting achievements, of its glorious history, which has been and will continue to be shaped by heroes like you.

Once again, I congratulate everyone on the outstanding success at the recent Paralympic Games. Thank you for your perseverance, hard work, and mastery.

Allow me to wish you further victories.

<…>

Expanded meeting of the Interior Ministry Board

2026-03-04T17:21:43+04:00

Vladimir Putin addressed the annual expanded meeting of the Interior Ministry Board.

The meeting agenda focused on the performance of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation and its agencies in 2025 and their priorities for 2026.

* * *

The President’s remarks at the meeting of the Interior Ministry Board

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Kolokoltsev, comrades,

During our expanded meeting today, we will review your performance in 2025 and discuss ways to improve the efficiency of Interior Ministry bodies in such key, high-priority areas as combating crime, maintaining public order, ensuring road safety, preventing illegal migration, and several other areas.

Overall, objective data shows that you achieved positive results last year. In particular, the crime rate has decreased in all federal districts and 80 regions of the Russian Federation. The number of repeat offences has also decreased.

Public order was maintained at a high level during the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, as well as such events as the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue international forum, the Russia-Islamic World International Economic Forum, and other large-scale events. I know how much work this involved, and I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who organised and carried it out at such a high level.

I would like to mention the following priorities of the Interior Ministry for this year.

First of all, you must build up efforts to solve crimes, primarily serious and extremely serious offences against the person and property crimes. I would like to emphasise that, regrettably, the number of juvenile crimes increased in 2025, for the first time in years. At the same time, the share of serious and extremely serious crimes in that segment exceeded 40 percent. This situation calls for an appropriate and prompt response.

Practice shows that young people are often deliberately involved in criminal activities and recruited into criminal groups. Nearly half of teenagers – 45 percent – have committed crimes as members of organised criminal groups. The criminals who are using teenagers for their own purposes must be identified and held accountable as soon as possible.

Last year’s amendments to the Criminal Code were designed to protect children from becoming entangled in subversive or terrorist activities, among other things. Inciting and masterminding these crimes, as well as encouraging teenagers to commit them, will now be punishable with up to a life sentence. Incidents involving aggressive behaviour by teenagers in schools, colleges and public spaces are also a matter of special concern.

The Interior Ministry must work with other law enforcement agencies to substantially increase its focus on anticipating and preventing these crimes. Of course, it is essential that teenagers experiencing challenges in their families take part in the volunteer movement, practice sports, and work for youth associations. We must do everything to enable these youngsters to avoid tragic mistakes, find their place in life, overcome the challenges they face and fulfil the talents and abilities they all have.

This is a national cause, of course. It goes without saying that all government agencies must contribute to these efforts, including municipal, regional and federal bodies, without diminishing the Interior Ministry’s role.

Fighting extremism also calls for integrated, system-wide, advanced efforts, which must also be smart and agile. Unfortunately, over the past year, the number of extremism-related crimes increased. The Interior Ministry must be firm in eradicating Russophobia, xenophobia and religious strife in all their manifestations, while also stepping up its preventive efforts in order to promptly identify and expose those seeking to destabilise Russia and its society.

In September 2026, the State Duma and regional legislative assemblies will hold their elections. This will be the first time our historical territories – Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions – will elect their federal MPs. It is essential that we create the necessary conditions so that people can vote in freedom and security.

We must pay close attention to fighting cybercrime. Last year, the total number of these crimes decreased, including those targeting the most vulnerable social group, i.e., elderly people and retirees. There is no doubt that this resulted, among other factors, from systemic awareness and prevention campaigns by the Interior Ministry, as well as other dedicated services and law enforcement agencies.

Let me add that stepping up efforts to help victims recover their losses is also important. This is a very sensitive and urgent matter for those who lose their savings and fall into debt.

Traffic police are now facing increased demands. In 2025, we managed to improve road safety and reduce child road traffic injuries, albeit marginally. Here, I would like to acknowledge the extensive collaborative efforts of traffic police officers, regional and municipal authorities, and representatives of the road and transport sectors, and the construction industry.

We must continue to act decisively in this direction. The key benchmark is the Strategy for Improving Road Safety until 2030, with a perspective extending to 2036, which was approved in November last year.

Comrades,

A pressing task for the Interior Ministry is combating economic crime. You have ample experience and expertise in this area, and intensive work is underway. It is essential to consistently uncover and solve such crimes, including those in the defence industry and other sectors of strategic importance to Russia’s security and sovereignty. Special attention must be paid to national projects and programmes aimed at improving the lives of our citizens. Funds allocated for these purposes must be safeguarded against embezzlement, misuse and, even more so, transfer abroad, which, unfortunately, still occurs.

It is also necessary to ensure the further decriminalisation of the consumer market, working alongside colleagues from the Government, federal agencies and regions to “whiten” the economy as a whole. This is one of the most critical tasks facing the Government today, and I strongly urge you to take an active part in it.

At the same time, actions must be taken in a way that does not create barriers for law-abiding businesses. On the contrary, it is important to enhance the competitiveness of the national jurisdiction and business environment. As for the national jurisdiction, it is imperative to improve both its quality and prestige. And, of course, as always, we must respond firmly to corrupt practices in any form.

The fight against illegal migration must be elevated to a new level. The establishment of a migration service within the Interior Ministry should significantly boost this effort. Naturally, we understand that work in this area has been ongoing, but recently, the very status of this service and the decisions taken here should – and, in my opinion, already do – yield tangible results, as should the State Migration Policy Concept adopted last autumn.

The fight against drug trafficking must become more decisive and uncompromising. As of March 1 this year, criminal liability has been introduced for the promotion of narcotics. Those who seek profit from this destructive activity and endanger the lives and health of our younger generation must clearly understand that they will now face far more serious consequences. The Interior Ministry, jointly with other relevant bodies, must establish effective and consistent law enforcement practices in this area.

Colleagues,

The tasks I have mentioned demand the utmost dedication from every employee. They require sustained daily effort and, at times, involve considerable risk.

We are also fully aware that the significant personnel shortage remains a serious challenge for the Interior Ministry. This issue requires comprehensive solutions. Among them is the need to improve the financial and social protections of our employees, a measure that everyone considers essential. A number of decisions have already been taken in this regard, and they will be implemented as early as this year. I will not go into specifics, but it is clear to everyone present here that salary levels are a primary focus.

One of the key options for bolstering the workforce is the recruitment of veterans of the special military operation. Their combat experience, resilience, and mental and physical endurance can substantially reinforce the Interior Ministry’s ranks. I urge you to actively consider such candidates for current vacancies.

In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry’s personnel for their dedication and integrity in fulfilling their duties. I extend special thanks to those who bravely serve as part of the special military operation and who, in cooperation with other security agencies, state authorities, and local government bodies, help maintain public order and uphold the rule of law in Donbass, Novorossiya, and border territories. In challenging conditions, they ensure the safety and rights of citizens. Their courage, professionalism, and principled conduct boost public trust in the state and in the law.

I am confident that the Interior Ministry’s personnel will continue to serve with responsibility and honour. I rely on your professionalism and commitment, and I wish you continued success.

Thank you for your service.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Comrades,

Addressing the tasks entrusted to the bodies of the Interior Ministry has always been of critical importance for any country – across all areas, at all times. For our country, for Russia today, with its vast diversity and in light of everything unfolding beyond our borders, this work is doubly – even triply – significant. It takes on special national importance. In certain areas, the nature and intensity of your work are comparable to the events taking place on the frontline.

Mr Kolokoltsev mentioned at the beginning of his report here that the situation was different during the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Moscow has become larger, while the number of people fulfilling the tasks set before the ministry has decreased, but what amazing people they are!

Thank you for your service, and all the best.

Thank you.

Meeting with researchers

2026-02-25T21:30:24+04:00

Vladimir Putin met with researchers on the sidelines of the Future Technologies Forum.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends, colleagues,

After such general attendance events, we traditionally hold a meeting in a narrower format, if this group can be called that. In any case, I am very pleased to see you. I hope you were not bored listening to what I had to say. As I mentioned at the beginning, I was speaking for a broad audience, but I believe that both the Russian part of today’s audience and our friends from foreign countries were nevertheless interested to hear how we think, where we are looking, and where we are heading. This is always useful.

Once again, in this semi-restricted format, when I spoke about the need to promote – propagate – in the best sense of the word scientific knowledge and early career guidance, when I talk about it I always think about our scientist, our great populariser of science in Soviet and Russian times, Daniil Granin, a writer who, at our last meeting – soon after that he passed away – drew attention precisely to this component. He said, “You know what? You should speak about science more often.” I replied, “We seem to be okay in this regard with all kinds of programmes to this end.” He said, “Programmes are good and important, but you, your colleagues, and the media should speak more often about the role of science, about the role of researchers, about their dedication, their achievements, and the importance of what they do. People are tired of watching on television who stole what, from whom, how, and how much. It’s simply too much! That is why I frequently draw the attention of the Government, the Presidential Executive Office, and media members to how important it is to engage in this sphere of information support for those who devote their lives to scientific research.

Today’s topic is particularly important, because it is multidisciplinary and lies at the intersection of many fields of knowledge. It is undoubtedly very important and holds enormous prospects.

If there is anything I can do for you, support you, I am at your disposal. And I would like to thank the participants of today’s meeting from abroad. Thank you very much for being with us.

<…>

Meeting with Valery Gergiev

2026-02-25T14:54:11+04:00

Late last night, Vladimir Putin met with Valery Gergiev, conductor, Artistic Director and General Director of the Mariinsky Theatre and General Director of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Gergiev, good evening.

Do you have any news for me?

Valery Gergiev: We recently had a premiere, Turandot, at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I know about that.

Valery Gergiev: The production features very good, very young singers, a true delight for us.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I saw a media report about it. Honest, that’s true. And I saw an interview with the cast.

Valery Gergiev: Over the past year or year and a half, I have increasingly felt that the best way to move forward and advance is by putting young people first. They have great voices that develop and mature. This does bring us a lot of joy. We went through a similar process at the Mariinsky Theatre before that. In fact, much was done a long time ago. There is a lot of cooperation and exchanges between the theatres.

Vladimir Putin: Promoting exchanges was the whole point.

Valery Gergiev: It does make sense. We know from what we read that there was a time when Fyodor Shalyapin performed in Moscow on Monday, and then at the Mariinsky in Petersburg on Wednesday. The people who made this system work back then were very astute. It looks like the same thing…

Vladimir Putin: We are trying to replicate these practices.

Valery Gergiev: Yes. By the way, Tchaikovsky knew that his works would be staged at the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi, so he was a generous creator and gave his all. There were others like him too.

Vladimir Putin: How long did you work on this production?

Valery Gergiev: Turandot has quite a big cast. It was amazing to have at least six singers for the Turandot part instead of just one. This means that we can show it quite often in the next one and a half to two years. It is a very popular opera, as you know.

There was a time when we used the same approach with Rigoletto. We brought Aida from the Mariinsky – a marvellous production by Giancarlo del Monaco. He will now stage Otello. Otello stands at the apex of opera art. There was a time when Placido Domingo was unrivalled when performing this part. You remember well the way his debut performance at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1992 sent shockwaves across Petersburg. By the way, we have worked with him only recently.

Vladimir Putin: Turandot may seem to place too much emphasis on cruelty.

Valery Gergiev: What I would say is that this opera by Puccini really stands out. He did not finish it, and another composer stepped in to complete the work, but it is a very powerful creation.

I think that what makes our theatres strong is that we recognise not only the great Russian musicians, but also the possibility of performing works by Italian, French, German and Austrian authors, who gave us the great characters which bind this world together. I think that today this is what we need more than ever.

We must credit our colleagues for staging Boris Godunov, Prince Igor and, of course, Eugene Onegin or The Queen of Spades. There may be fewer performances but musicians around the world will keep returning to the great masters and their creations. After all, we cannot live without Shakespeare, so here is Otello. There is no way I would say that no, we will not stage Otello because the origins of one of its authors, Shakespeare, is a problem for us. This would be so silly and lead us nowhere. I know that you have been thinking about this more than any musician.

We also hope that more opportunities will be created for both the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres in the lead-up to the Bolshoi Theatre’s 250^th anniversary. This extends beyond the exchange of performances, directors and artists, which has long become a well-oiled process. We hope that new opportunities will present themselves. In this sense, we are not only looking at the next two or three years, but also at the next few months, even if this may sound strange, when the creative processes will be accompanied by the strengthening of facilities for our work.

For example, the long-awaited decision to construct a new building for the Mariinsky Theatre has doubled our audience, and all this thanks to one large project. Back then, we collected funds throughout the world, and we have built one of the best concert halls in the world, which is why the Mariinsky Theatre can seat 6,000 people. The situation at the Bolshoi Theatre is also good, but we must do our utmost to create a certain parity.

We were perhaps more fortunate because we were the first to request your assistance, which we received back in 2002. But you must agree that ten years later we opened a truly remarkable theatre.

Vladimir Putin: Will we open the Directorate at the Mariinsky Theatre, just as you proposed?

Valery Gergiev: I believe that this institution, which used to be known as the Directorate of Imperial Theatres, implies a nationwide scale. Everyone knew that St Petersburg was the capital, yet nobody disregarded Moscow either. The current situation is similar. I believe that we are moving towards what we used to have in the past.

I recall a conversation we had only recently. I never imagined that I would concurrently lead such great theatres, working at both of them. This could be like what Pyotr Tchaikovsky did when he opened Carnegie Hall. Historically, the world has needed these bridges, and Tchaikovsky travelled to New York in 1891 where he opened the world-famous Carnegie Hall.

There is so much to remember. The history of these imperial theatres is similar in a way to the establishment of the Lincoln Centre and the John F. Kennedy Centre. These two centres, named after US presidents and opened 60 and 70 years ago, have become focal points, attracting the best representatives of the United States and its creative community. I have performed there many times.

It seems to me that today we have a unique opportunity to create this type of cultural centres, or cultural quarters, in the heart of Moscow or St Petersburg. I have even brought a map of St Petersburg with me, the city you know well. St Petersburg has numerous cultural hotspots. Kolomna alone has at least 20, I believe – and I am not counting Igor Stravinsky’s house or Sergei Rachmaninoff’s house. Alexander Pushkin also stayed nearby, and Alexander Suvorov lived and died there. The area is an incredible constellation of now legendary architectural monuments that witnessed historic events. I will leave these references for you to review later.

Vladimir Putin: Great, thank you.

Valery Gergiev: I also think it is a good time to consider what we will create for the younger generations. These two theatres attract many young viewers. At a recent Bolshoi Theatre premiere, Semyon Kotko by Sergei Prokofiev, I went onto the stage during a curtain call. I was the last to come out, as the other performers were already taking their bows. I came out to present the orchestra and I saw a tremendous number of young people in the audience. Not 30 or 40 but hundreds. And I could hear their reaction, their young and fresh voices. It may seem that academic theatres, with their tickets on the higher end, usually attract more mature and wealthier audiences. But it has been my dream that young people would consider the theatre not just a distant dream but an affordable and eventually favourite venue for stage performances and concerts.

I think it was the right decision to team up with Channel One to show free live broadcasts of The Nutcracker because the shortage was a problem.

Vladimir Putin: The entire country wants to see The Nutcracker.

Valery Gergiev: Indeed. At least people in Chukotka or Kaliningrad or Vladivostok can enjoy a live broadcast of this ever-popular ballet by Tchaikovsky.

It is good to have ample dreams. Only recently, I decided that, in this anniversary year, I should set a major task for the company at the beginning: to produce Sergei Prokofiev’s entire collection of symphonies, operas and ballets. Clearly, Shostakovich will also require our attention in six months because we will be marking his 120^th birth anniversary this year. A little earlier, in April, it will be Prokofiev’s 135^th birth anniversary.

We plan to visit about 40 regions during the Easter Festival to mark these dates. We have an opportunity to travel across swiftly, mainly by train. We are going to reach Krasnoyarsk, which is considerably far away.

Vladimir Putin: You do this every year.

Valery Gergiev: That’s right. But, as you know well, when Easter Sunday falls on May 2 or May 5, you try to find an option to visit at least ten regions. We must be in Moscow on May 9. This means that, if we depart on the fifth and must return by the ninth, we usually extend the tour to several days prior to and several days after these dates. This year, the Easter Sunday falls on April 12 and we will have a whole month to take this tour.

We are touring as a combined orchestra, with soloists from both theatres. And it turns out that this offers us a much richer and more unique opportunity to grow together than if we were working separately. It has been a very pleasant discovery, and we have you to thank for it, because, oddly enough, the artists from these two companies did not really know each other before. You know how it is – some of us support CSKA, some support Spartak. Or it is like comparing Real Madrid and Barcelona. Great clubs? Absolutely. But could you ever combine them? No, because they are under contract. You play for Real, or you play for Barcelona. But with us, we are playing with a combined, mixed ensemble, which is especially beneficial for the younger players.

Vladimir Putin: The synergy is clearly working well.

Valery Gergiev: I believe it is the destiny of these two theatres to be the absolute leaders across the entire vast spectrum of Russian classical music. It really is a vast world: symphonies, instrumental concertos, operas, ballets.

In ballet, the Russians spent years catching up, and then they overtook the rest of the world. It all happened very rapidly, right at the start of the 20^th century, when Stravinsky, Prokofiev, a little later Shostakovich and so many others, including our friend Rodion Shchedrin, created magnificent works that are still performed today.

Vladimir Putin: You mentioned The Nutcracker. The Mariinsky still keep the Petipa version in their repertoire, don’t they? And the Bolshoi…

Valery Gergiev: …you have the Grigorovich one. These are all towering figures, you are absolutely right. And I think it benefits the public to have the chance to see both. That is why we sometimes decide to take a production from Moscow to St Petersburg, and in return, invite a production from St Petersburg down to us, swapping them around so that everyone can see the full range. You have productions by Leonid Lavrovsky, a remarkable, legendary choreographer; you have Fyodor Lopukhov; and then, of course, you have Yury Grigorovich.

I am proud to say that we have kept Arif Melikov’s A Legend of Love in the repertoire on both stages. It is a major, celebrated Azerbaijani ballet, originally staged by a young Grigorovich. The Stone Flower was also created by him when he was still a young man living in Leningrad, as it was then.

This wealth of repertoire is not just gratifying, it is almost overwhelming, because even two theatres might not be enough to do full justice to this magnificent Russian heritage.

Vladimir Putin: I hope you have the energy for two such major houses.

Valery Gergiev: You know, I was in Vladikavkaz yesterday, and the day before in Nalchik. It was a long-awaited moment for me – we gave a big concert in memory of Yury Temirkanov in Nalchik. I also met with the head of the region and discussed the possibility of establishing a theatre there worthy of the name of that great son of the Kabardino-Balkarian people. I believe that, with some support, it could become a real centre for symphonic, operatic and ballet performance.

I grew up in Vladikavkaz, and we have already renovated three rather interesting venues there without any government money.

Vladimir Putin: We must treat the name of Yury Temirkanov and his creative legacy with care. I would suggest you consider this matter and submit some proposals.

Valery Gergiev: Certainly. I am certain that a theatre quarter in St Petersburg will undoubtedly become a fascinating place, rich both architecturally and historically. It is one thing to admire a beautiful building, and another to say: this is where they studied – and list the names. Take the conservatory: its graduate was Tchaikovsky, and that immediately makes you think. In this way, Yury Temirkanov spent over 20 years here, if we include his childhood and early musical years. He moved here when he was around 12 or 13 years old and remained in St Petersburg for the rest of his life, primarily near Theatre Square: the children’s music school, the conservatory, then his second education in conducting, followed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mariinsky Theatre, and the Mravinsky Orchestra. His was an extraordinary life, truly extraordinary.

Vladimir Putin: His name must be honoured. I believe we should consider immortalising his name. In his art, of course, it lives on, but I feel something more is needed.

Valery Gergiev: Yes, I think the suggestion is practically begging to be made. It seems to me that the place where he discovered St Petersburg, near the conservatory, the school, and the Mariinsky Theatre – that was a significant part of his life, simply a significant part.

Vladimir Putin: I have an idea that I will share with you now.

But you wanted to discuss the anniversary of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Valery Gergiev: The Bolshoi Theatre’s anniversary is at the end of the year. I believe this is a monumental event for our vast country, not just for Moscow or St Petersburg. We will invite leading ensembles to perform on our stages, and we ourselves will perform under the banner of this anniversary at their venues. For example, the theatre in Vladivostok. It is a branch of the Mariinsky Theatre, and they are currently performing in St Petersburg, visiting three times a year. For now, it is a kind of examination.

This was entirely your idea back in 2014. At the time, it not only stunned me but also delighted and surprised me. Later, I told myself: if I perform in Japan – having already made over 100 visits there with the Mariinsky Theatre ensemble – I thought – we can handle Vladivostok too.

Then we quickly began considering how to develop further. Now, as you know, construction is underway on a rather large, if not enormous, centre there, combining educational, museum, concert, and theatre facilities. It is in a magnificent location, purely from the audience’s perspective – overlooking the Pacific Ocean. We are all eagerly awaiting the grand opening. We hope it will take place next year, and we will do everything possible to achieve this.

The company has grown and continues to grow, which pleases me. They are constantly here, in Moscow, and have been nominated for the Golden Mask award, and will represent what might seem like a distant region – the Far East, Vladivostok – before discerning audiences, both in St Petersburg and Moscow. This is part of our plans.

<…>

Meeting of judges of courts of general jurisdiction, military, and arbitration courts

2026-02-19T18:12:56+04:00

The President took part in the annual meeting of judges of courts of general jurisdiction, military and arbitration courts of the Russian Federation.

The meeting was devoted to the performance of the Russian judicial system in 2025 and goals for 2026.

President of the Supreme Court Igor Krasnov delivered a report.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today, just like every year, the agenda for this annual meeting will focus on important topics that matter not just for the judiciary but for all people across the country. I am referring to the essential and instrumental role of the judicial authority.

It is my hope that through your efforts, you will succeed in coming up with solutions for addressing present-day challenges. It goes without saying that there are still quite a few challenges of this kind, as is always the case for any major undertaking.

Let me emphasise that all steps in this direction must contribute to strengthening and developing the judiciary by enhancing its legitimacy, improving performance and ensuring its accessibility. We know very well that being able to produce well-grounded and fair verdicts has a direct bearing on human destinies, as well as on whether people and society in general trust not only the judicial system, but also the authorities in general.

The heavy workload the judges face is one of the most serious challenges. Of course, being constantly pressed for time and facing an excessive workload has a negative effect on performance, forcing judges to overlook the people they deal with.

There are measures underway to manage this workload. Last year, the number of cases in the courts of original jurisdiction declined for the first time, with a 20 percent decrease. Moreover, this was true for almost all types of cases. There is no doubt that this is largely attributable to the increase of state duties in September 2024 for cases filed with general jurisdiction courts, magistrates and commercial courts.

As for criminal cases, there is no doubt that the effort to humanise criminal law has helped reduce this workload.

In addition, the extra-judicial procedure for recovering mandatory payments and other penalties was introduced in November 2025 and could contribute to reducing the workload in administrative cases.

At the same time, as we know well, we lack judges – about 15 percent in the federal courts of general jurisdiction and commercial courts. I know that these matters – I mean the issue of recruiting people with a high level of competence to work as judges – are among the key topics on your agenda.

We live in an age of technological and digital transformation across many spheres of life, a process that is proceeding in nearly all areas. This leads to the development of new legal situations and new disputes. That is why candidates to judicial positions should be selected from the most qualified lawyers, capable of deftly meeting modern technological challenges and reacting to the dynamic development of legislation in all spheres and sectors.

The Supreme Court and the bodies of the judicial community should maintain the high standards on the basis of which candidates are selected. In 2025, 2,763 judges were appointed to federal courts of general jurisdiction, and 423 judges were appointed to federal commercial courts.

I believe that we should make broader use of the institution of mentorship, attracting the most experienced judges to share knowledge and basic principles of judicial culture and ethics with younger generations of justices.

It is worth supporting the initiative of President of the Supreme Court Igor Krasnov on the redistribution of judge vacancies specifically within the limits of the total approved number of judges in favour of the regions where judges have been working at maximum capacity for a long time.

Strengthening the potential of the courts created in our historical territories is an important personnel and managerial task. One hundred courts have been created in these regions. The number of cases they heard last year increased for all types of legal proceedings, including by 35 percent for criminal and civil proceedings, and 56 percent for administrative cases. The number of cases heard at commercial courts has increased by 40 percent. The judges in these territories, as well as in the border areas of the Belgorod and Kursk regions, are working in difficult conditions that sometimes involve risk to their lives, yet they have demonstrated the best professional and human qualities. I would like to use this occasion and this audience to express gratitude to them for their loyalty to the profession and their dedication to their duties.

(Applause)

Colleagues,

I would like to emphasise the special importance of the plenary meeting and the Presidium of the Supreme Court in formulating clear, systemic and timely legal positions, for improving judicial practice and ensuring consistency in the application of law. As a result, we minimise the subjective interpretation of legal norms by the lower courts and, which is especially important, improve the certainty of court decisions. Taken together, this directly influences the stability and quality of the application of law and helps reduce the number of judicial errors.

I would like to point out that the development of uniform judicial practice is only possible if judges strictly comply with the decisions of plenary meetings of the Supreme Court, and each case of disregard must receive a principled assessment. I believe that we should consider the possibility of creating an effective system monitoring compliance with the decisions of plenary meetings at the Supreme Court. The consistent application of law is a common goal, a guarantee of quality and a significant factor in the competitiveness of the national jurisdiction.

Incidentally, your colleagues beyond Russia have provided a very good reason for highlighting the quality of Russian jurisdiction. Many of our compatriots, who relied on the unbiased and objective nature of the foreign judicial system, have found quite the contrary.

A key priority for our courts is the protection and observance of citizens’ social rights, above all ensuring the legal rights of those participating in the special military operation, as well as their families. I understand that the Supreme Court has set out clear legal positions on the guaranteed benefits and compensation due to the families of our fallen heroes. Furthermore, we must continue to pay close attention to the judicial protection of women, children, large families, disabled people, and other vulnerable groups.

I also want to say a few words specifically about the courts’ efforts to humanise the application of criminal law. In this connection, a number of legislative initiatives from the Supreme Court were implemented last year. These included broader use of suspended sentences for pregnant women, for single parents (men and women) with a child under 14, and also restrictions on remanding women with young children, individuals with serious health conditions, and those suspected or accused of non-violent crimes in custody.

The number of cases in which pre-trial detention was imposed fell by 6.2 percent, while the use of house arrest increased by 2 percent. This suggests a slight shift away from custodial measures that restrict the right to liberty. There has also been a noticeable rise in the use of alternative sentences in criminal cases: suspended sentences, fines, community service, and so on.

I have the figures here, though of course you are familiar with them – around 125,000 people, or 26 percent of those convicted, received custodial sentences, while nearly 320,000, or 71 percent, received alternative punishments.

I would ask the Supreme Court to keep a close watch on compliance with time limits in criminal cases involving defendants held in pre-trial detention. In particular, I want the justification for pre-trial detention to be carefully scrutinised in cases involving suspects or accused individuals facing charges related to entrepreneurial or other economic activity.

Of course, as that well-known Soviet film put it, and we all remember the line – “a thief must be in jail.” But there are nuances. Locking someone up for a minor offence is not always justified. The essential principle – and we all learned this during our time at university – is that punishment must be inevitable. But the question of what form that punishment should take is precisely the decision you are entrusted to make.

An important topic, which I have already touched upon today, is the introduction of new information technologies into the work of the courts. Systemic digitisation of the judiciary is actively underway, which enhances the efficiency and speed of case consideration and ensures greater transparency of judicial procedures.

Digital technologies are changing everything – absolutely everything in life – and, as we know, unfortunately, they are not always used for good: they are also actively employed for criminal purposes by terrorist and extremist groups, as well as by organised criminal communities. New forms of criminal activity are emerging. For instance, there is a growing number of cases where digital currency serves as a means of committing crimes, as a source of illegal income, or as the subject of criminal offences. In these instances, the practices and situations faced by citizens and businesses often lack systemic regulatory frameworks. Life, as they say, outpaces the law. This has always been the case, as we all know well. A norm is adopted, but life has already moved forward, and many things remain unregulated. This has always been true, especially during periods of rapid change, and the Supreme Court must respond promptly, establish unified approaches, and clarify them to the courts, while actively exercising its right of legislative initiative.

Colleagues,

Naturally, technologies are advancing at such a pace that it is hard even to keep track of them, and it is difficult to predict what tomorrow will bring. But it is indisputable that, at least today, no technology can replace a judge. Court decisions affect people’s lives and must be rendered by a human being. Only a human can see, feel, and understand the most precise and subtle nuances in the cases brought before the court. Qualities inherent only to humans – based on their experience, general culture, intuition, character, and sense of justice and humanism – often determine the outcome of legal disputes.

I wish you success in your complex and highly responsible work. I hope that your professionalism and unwavering commitment to the principles of legality, objectivity, and impartiality will help strengthen our citizens’ trust in the judicial system.

Thank you.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Mr Krasnov presented a comprehensive report. I would like to highlight that all the important issues have been addressed, and he even cited Alexander II and Peter the Great.

In this context, I am also reminded of another of our monarchs, Emperor Alexander III, who once said, “Whatever you do, they will turn into a royal command.” He said this ironically, but what I would definitely like to note in this regard is that the decisions of the Plenum of the Supreme Court, as well as the decisions of the Constitutional Court, must carry the force of a royal command. This, of course, guarantees both the stability of legislative activity and the quality of decisions, as I already mentioned in my opening remarks. The domestic political situation, especially during election campaigns, as well as the economic and social situation, and the wellbeing of society as a whole, depend on the quality of your decisions and the quality of your work.

I wish you success in your work and thank you for what you have already done, especially during this difficult historical period in the life of our country.

Thank you very much, and all the best.

Presenting Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists

2026-02-05T17:44:12+04:00

Ahead of Russian Science Day, marked on February 8, Vladimir Putin presented the 2025 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists in the Kremlin’s St Catherine Hall.

Established in 2008, the Prize is awarded to young Russian scientists aged 35 or under for their significant contributions to the advancement of domestic science, for the creation of prototypes for new equipment and advanced technologies that drive innovative development in both the economy and the social sphere, as well as strengthening the country’s defence capability. Since 2019, the monetary award for each prize has been 5 million rubles.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends.

I am very pleased to be meeting with you today, on the eve of Russian Science Day. Naturally, I am also delighted to present you – representatives of the younger generation of researchers – with the laureate insignia in recognition of your outstanding scientific achievements.

I wish to extend my congratulations on this holiday to the entire scientific community of our country: our distinguished scientists, heads of major institutes and research centres, educators, researchers, engineers, and laboratory technicians, as well as university graduates and postgraduate students who are just taking their first steps in science.

All of you have chosen an interesting, honourable, and, I would say, thrilling vocation – the pursuit of progress. It is in this passion, this tireless quest for new knowledge, that the potential of great discoveries lies. To a large extent, such discoveries determine the future of our country, its development, and prosperity. I wish you all success in this noble pursuit.

In the realm of science, behind every major achievement and breakthrough lies not only the persistent labour and exceptional talent of researchers – without which, naturally, nothing is possible – but also, as a rule, a strong scientific tradition. Its formation requires tremendous effort and resources. That is why the existence of a whole range of such scientific communities is our most critical advantage.

Of great importance are the research schools of chemist Nikolai Semyonov, biologist Vladimir Engelgardt, neurophysiologist Natalya Bekhtereva, mathematicians Andrei Kolmogorov and Ludwig Faddeev, physicists Abram Ioffe, Alexander Prokhorov, Zhores Alferov and Yevgeny Velikhov, and many other outstanding scientists of the 20th and 21st centuries who are too numerous to mention. They have laid a solid foundation upon which modern research projects are based, ensuring the continuity of scientific research, the training and development of new generations of researchers and scientists.

This continuity is crucial for strengthening our national scientific potential. This continuing dialogue between our leading researchers and their pupils is producing new, forward-thinking ideas and scientific fields, and promoting responsibility for the country, a feeling of shared destiny, and a striving to contribute to the fulfilment of vital tasks.

Dear friends,

All our winners have the spirit of trailblazers. You are not afraid of questions to which there are, as yet, no answers. You seek these answers and find them; you look for and find solutions and are focused on achieving goals on a national and global scale.

The winners include the research group of Alexander Anikin and Pavel Moseyev, who have created Russia’s first safe nuclear batteries. These small, extremely reliable and durable batteries can work underwater, in outer space and at extreme temperatures without maintenance or charging. They are vital for developing autonomous unmanned vehicles and systems and for creating a new generation of aircraft, satellites and missiles.

Chemist Dmitry Butylsky has created a unique technology for the extraction of lithium from natural waters and industrial solutions. Today, lithium is a critical component of the high-tech industry that is indispensable for the manufacturing of batteries for a broad range of smart devices, from smartphones to electric vehicles.

His method is not only effective for extracting lithium but can also be used to reintroduce it into production. This solution is an additional contribution to the creation of an environmentally sound, closed-loop economy.

The research team consisting of Viktoria Vedyushkina, Vladislav Kibkalo and Gleb Belozyorov are involved in fundamental research in mathematics, creating methods to speak in the language of geometry about the most complex dynamic processes, which is highly relevant to the development of lasers, colliders, advancements in quantum technology and artificial intelligence. This far-reaching groundwork allows us to be trendsetters in the technologies of the future, rather than catching up with or copying somebody else’s work.

I recall discussing this with Gleb Belozyorov back in 2022, although via videoconference. I remember that conversation, and it is great to see that you are continuing your research.

Artyom Isayev is searching for a solution to one of the biggest challenges in modern medicine. He is studying remedies for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. For this purpose, he is examining viruses that act as natural enemies to malignant pathogenic bacteria, destroying and suppressing them. This represents not simply an alternative, but a completely different approach. And it is encouraging to see that Russia is among the leaders in this field of research. The entire world is working on this problem today and, once again, it is good to see that not only are we not lagging behind but we are among the leaders. However, it is necessary to take the next step and learn to develop broad-spectrum medications based on these scientific findings. Artyom Isayev’s work brings this progress closer.

Friends,

Congratulations to all the winners on their well-deserved awards. Your discoveries and developments fuel our confidence in the steady advancement of Russian science. Your achievements will become important benchmarks for new generations of researchers.

Thank you.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Friends, congratulations once again on today’s event and these high honours.

All the speakers have said important things, but I would like to mention our first winner, who said that, thanks to his research, autonomous, reliable and durable systems have been developed.

Our country has demonstrated this for centuries, for more than a thousand years. And today, under the challenging conditions of modern times, Russia demonstrates these fundamental qualities, among other things.

I want to say that this promotes Russia’s advancement and confidence in its future, with instrumental contributions not only from many generations, but from many professionals representing a variety of industries. Those involved in scientific research – our scientists who create the foundation for the future and for further progress in fundamental research and its applications – are certainly high on the list, if not at the very top.

My immense gratitude goes to you. Congratulations on today’s event and on the upcoming holiday.

I wish you all the best. Thank you.

Meeting with Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia Alexander Boroda

2026-01-29T11:35:51+04:00

Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia Alexander Boroda.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I am delighted to see you; we do meet on a regular basis.

These past few days, and specifically yesterday, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed throughout the world to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. I would like to stress that particular importance is attached to this memorial day in Russia, because we remember the woes that Nazism brought to our land. Over a million Soviet and Russian Jews fell victim to those crimes.

I think it is no coincidence that, in accordance with the well-known resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, this memorial day coincides with the anniversary of the complete liberation of Leningrad from the Nazi siege. Because in the latter case, these were crimes too, involving the destruction of an entire vast city, and their victims were primarily civilians of all ethnicities. These people were civilians, not combatants. They were non-combatants, as they say in such cases. The Nazis simply wanted to destroy the city and exterminate its entire population. This was also a crime against humanity, which is absolutely obvious.

I know that the Jewish community in Russia is holding a series of events over these days to pay tribute to the Holocaust victims, with so many people taking part in them. Moreover, these people represent a diverse mix of ethnic backgrounds. What events have you planned for these days?

Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar: We marked this important day yesterday. We were very pleased to see people representing all traditional religions and people of various ethnic backgrounds attending the event. After all, I believe that it is here in Russia today that we truly experience not just dialogue, but mutual respect for everyone around us. It is true that we are holding a series of events throughout the week, including conferences and performances.

We not only want people to keep this memory sacred; we want everyone to learn the lessons of the Holocaust, to remember that people suffered. It was rightly said that these were peaceful civilians, people who were not involved but were made to suffer because of their nationality or religious identity.

Regrettably, we see similar events taking place in many countries today. Therefore, we above all take pride in the fact that we live here, thank God, because we really feel comfortable here, and we appreciate this multiethnic world, which is something special.

When I talk with my colleagues in the West, they ask me, “How can you sit next to a mufti or leaders of other faiths?” I reply, “We not only sit next to each other but also jointly implement various projects. We live in peace.”

The current level of antisemitism in the world – I am sure that you have heard about the events in Australia and in Manchester, Britain… Thankfully, we do not see such things here. But trying to understand why people commit such acts, what they think, and why there is so much envy and hatred… I struggle to understand where it comes from or how we can fight it. But you have done it. I remember very well how we lived 30 years ago, in the early 1990s, when synagogues were set on fire, and other terrible things occurred. It was a difficult time. Thank God, we can see that today our young people get along and are returning to our eternal values. Thank God for that. We are grateful to you for what you do every day. I know that this is very important to you.

You mentioned the events we are marking these days. Today is a special day for Hasidic Jews: 75 years ago, the Lubavitcher Rebbe assumed leadership of us, the Jews. He was a remarkable leader who said that love is the most powerful weapon. When people respect each other, this bond is stronger than anything else in this world, and it is something we must always speak about and demonstrate. If we do, we will see the world we are waiting for, God willing, the world that is not only a circus and chaos but also a garden. As He said, the world is a beautiful garden, which we can enter by unlocking the potential within it.

Vladimir Putin: You have just mentioned the peace and harmony that exist among representatives of different faiths in Russia, and I must say that this is, above all, the result of the shared historical and religious culture of the peoples of Russia. This is the foundation of the relationships that have developed between representatives of different confessions.

Each people and each confession makes its own contribution, because all understand that the stability and resilience of Russia depend on cooperation among representatives of different ethnic groups, peoples and faiths. This is the contribution of every people of Russia to that stability and to the creation of conditions for future development and for our successes in all spheres. This is extremely important, and we will certainly continue to support it.

Berel Lazar: I do not want to argue with you, but you are being too modest. This would not have happened without you.

I remember very well how you brought everyone together. It was important to you that we find a way to live in friendship. For that, I would like to sincerely thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Still, you mentioned what you called eternal values – and, by and large, they are universal. I believe that people in many countries are now reflecting on this and realising that while it is easy to destroy, it is difficult to restore and preserve.

We worked on this together, and I want to emphasise this, we are working on it now, and we will continue to do so in the future in the interests of the entire country.

President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia Alexander Boroda: The idea of patriotism, the idea of love for one’s country, which all confessions promote and demonstrate by example, is what underpins Russia’s unity today. It is what brings us all together: the Russian Orthodox Church, Muslims, ourselves, Buddhists – all confessions present in Russia are united by this shared substance and common meaning.

The fact that the state places emphasis on traditional religious values as the foundation of spiritual and moral education is tremendous support for us and, in fact, a stronghold and basis of the country’s shared values.

The Rabbi has just spoken about the West and its complex system of values, as we might put it. In this regard, Russia offers an exceptional example of what family is, what the upbringing of children means, and what respect for parents entails. All people of sound mind – and, by and large, all confessions around the world – should look to Russia as an example of how development should proceed. God grant that this understanding may take hold.

Vladimir Putin: In my view, that is gradually taking shape.

Alexander Boroda: Yes.

<…>

Conversation with MIPT students, postgraduates and their supervisors

2026-01-24T10:54:47+04:00

Excerpts from transcript of conversation with MIPT students, postgraduates and their thesis supervisors

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon everyone,

Mr Livanov and I congratulate you on the upcoming Students Day.

St Tatiana’s Day on January 25 is very soon. You are very lucky to be studying at such a wonderful university. It is both beneficial and, I hope, very interesting.

Mr Livanov described how the work here is organised. You can work here until retirement.

Rector of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Dmitry Livanov: Many do just that.

Vladimir Putin: And never retire after, because both education and opportunities for scientific research, engineering, and manufacturing are wonderful here. I understand that it is also fully possible to launch a business of your own afterwards.

Dmitry Livanov: Many do so, and many are very successful at that.

Vladimir Putin: You have just told me that MIPT is a well-known, excellent, and beautiful university that at one time branched from…

Dmitry Livanov: Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, from Moscow State University. But it was no coincidence, because back then… It was in 1951, I believe, wasn’t it?

Dmitry Livanov: Even closer to 1949.

Vladimir Putin: It will be 75 years this year.

Dmitry Livanov: Yes, MIPT will mark its 75^th anniversary as a separate university.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Livanov, I congratulate you and everyone – the faculty, students, and alumni – on this anniversary.

Dmitry Livanov: Thank you.

Remark: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Back then, the university came into being in a natural way. Although it branched from Moscow State University, it came as a logical and timely decision: at that time, the training of engineering specialists was of paramount importance – not only engineers, but people with exceptional intellectual potential.

Pyotr Kapitsa was among its founders. A whole constellation of outstanding scientists gathered here and laid the foundations of the university. Kapitsa, of course, made an especially significant contribution to its development. This legacy is being carried on today by our contemporaries: MIPT leaders and scientists. It is an achievement indeed, and I therefore congratulate you on your anniversary this year. By the way, which month is it?

Dmitry Livanov: Third week of November.

Vladimir Putin: It will be marked this year. I congratulate you wholeheartedly.

Dmitry Livanov: Thank you very much, Mr President.

A distinctive feature of the educational model established by Pyotr Kapitsa is the early involvement of students in scientific or project-based work.

Every student at our university, without exception, starts participating in genuine scientific, technological, engineering and IT projects from their third year, rather than in purely academic exercises. This is a unique characteristic of the MIPT’s educational model, which we take great pride in, have preserved to this day, and which yields outstanding educational results. It is precisely for this reason that our graduates include many brilliant scientists, including Nobel laureates, numerous creators and leaders of major technological projects and programmes, a great many distinguished public figures, and many talented entrepreneurs.

Vladimir Putin: I have just listened with great interest and pleasure to the fact that the heads of certain institutes simultaneously serve as heads of companies.

Dmitry Livanov: Yes, this is important for us.

Vladimir Putin: That is excellent. The rector has just mentioned the idea of creating a technology valley. That is truly fantastic. It may sound like a jest, but in reality, one could come here and work until retirement. Every day would be interesting and very important for the country.

Dmitry Livanov: If I may, I propose we give the floor to a few of our students – both young men and women – so they can briefly share the scientific projects on which they are working.

<…>

Vyacheslav Tokarev: Good afternoon. My name is Vyacheslav Tokarev, and I come from the city of Nizhny Tagil. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and am now in my first year of master’s studies.

My colleagues have spoken about fundamental research that can be conducted in the field of biology. I would like to discuss practical applied tasks that are being addressed.

For shipping along the Northern Sea Route, a crucial task is the creation of ice condition maps to guide crews. Previously, this was accomplished using satellite constellations, including foreign ones. Recently, however, the volume of available data has decreased.

Vladimir Putin: Due to political restrictions.

Dmitry Livanov: They refuse to sell the imagery.

Vladimir Putin: Some are sold, but very few.

Vyacheslav Tokarev: This is also linked to the increased cost of such images and their limited availability.

We have developed a solution to this problem as part of an ice reconnaissance system, which lies in the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a radar that incorporates artificial intelligence components. This allows for operational reconnaissance at the request of the crew directly from the icebreaker, and this information can be used to chart the most optimal and safe route under the challenging weather conditions of the Arctic.

Thus, we have created a serial solution that has been tested during four Arctic expeditions and has already been implemented on three icebreakers operated by Atomflot.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Using unmanned aircraft?

Dmitry Livanov: The real breakthrough is its ability to land on the deck of a moving ship.

Vladimir Putin: Are they large?

Vyacheslav Tokarev: The drone itself comes in at about 200 kilogrammes.

Vladimir Putin: That’s a substantial kit. What is its payload capacity?

Vyacheslav Tokarev: Up to 30 kilogrammes.

Vladimir Putin: And its flight range?

Vyacheslav Tokarev: Up to 100 kilometres.

Vladimir Putin: Impressive. Very good indeed.

Now, of course, we will continue to develop our own satellite constellation – that’s a given, and it is expanding. But what you are doing here is undoubtedly vital. As we all know, it is not just the Arctic nations; countries around the world are paying increased attention to the region. (Laughter.)

I see you smiling! But in all seriousness, it is both a fascinating and profoundly important field. And Russia has always been – well, at least for many decades now – the undisputed leader in Arctic exploration. We build icebreakers, for instance, that are unrivalled anywhere. It is quite something: we currently operate 34 diesel icebreakers and eight nuclear ones. We have two, the Chukotka and Leningrad, under active construction; the Stalingrad has been laid down; and there are two more in the pipeline. Then there is the Lider, a 150-megawatt nuclear-powered icebreaker being built at the Zvezda shipyard in the Far East – the world has never seen anything like it. Construction is on schedule, progressing smoothly. I am confident we will have it by 2030. It can smash through several metres of ice without breaking stride. That is a capability no other country possesses today, so powerful, but we are steadily building on that lead.

It is hard to predict the future, of course. Experts are divided on how the climate will develop, both globally and in the Arctic: whether we are in for continued warming or, as some argue, the peak has passed and a cooling trend is due. They are studying ice cores, examining centuries of data, looking at those historical sine waves.

But the key point is this: regardless of those trends, we will be expanding our efforts. The Northern latitudes constitute 70 percent of Russian territory. This is extremely important. Developing the Northern Sea Route is crucial for us, for international trade, and for global logistics. So any research in this area is of utmost importance. And its applications, as we know, extend far beyond just here. So, more power to you. We are strongly behind you and are counting on your success.

<…>

Plenary session of the Federation Council

2025-12-24T19:14:04+04:00

Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko: Colleagues,

This is a special and very important day for us. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is taking part in our meeting.

Mr President,

On behalf of all senators, I would like to thank you for finding the opportunity to address the Federation Council, the chamber of the regions, in person, despite your extremely packed schedule, as we all know. We always feel that you are keeping a close eye on what we do, as well as your support.

For the Federation Council, 2025 has been a special year. In fact, 25 years ago, right after your inauguration, you adopted a new method for forming the Federation Council. It enabled senators representing regional executive and legislative bodies to work in a permanent and professional manner.

The following years demonstrated that you made the right decision. I believe that it has had a fundamental impact on the federal state structure.

The Federation Council serves as a platform for balancing the interests of the federal centre and the regions. The way legislative efforts are carried out has changed too, of course.

Today, the Federation Council enjoys broad constitutional authority. Adopted at your initiative five years ago, the Constitutional amendments offered this chamber an even broader mandate. For us, this was a step toward enhancing the Parliament’s role and reinforcing democratic principles in our country.

You have moved gradually, on a step-by-step basis, to consolidate our political system and put it on a solid footing. I would even describe it as building a sovereign political culture which is able to counter any challenges and threats and stand firm in the face of any aggression, be it military, economic or ideological, against our Fatherland.

I am convinced that throughout these years, Mr President, you have felt that the upper chamber has always been by your side to offer you its parliamentary support in achieving national development goals and fulfilling all your decisions, including the landmark decisions you took as President.

These decisions included matters which fall within the Federation Council’s immediate purview – enabling Crimea and Sevastopol to return to what we call their homeport, as well as reuniting Russia with its historical lands in Donbass and Novorossiya. There was also a legislative effort to achieve the objectives of the special military operation and overcome the unprecedented sanctions pressure and so many other things. In this process, we always spoke with one voice and took these decisions as a united team.

Today, we are completing this parliamentary year. It has been quite intense, and I can say that we have worked hard over the past 12 months to fulfil all our plans. I will not bore you with numbers. Data on the Federation Council’s performance in 2025 is available on the chamber’s website.

Of course, we focused our legislative actions on the objectives you have set for us, Mr President, including supporting special military operation participants, their families and relatives, supporting families with children, as well as demographics, social laws, economic development and enhancing defence and security, as well as protecting people from the technological challenges they face.

I would like to emphasise the increased legislative activity of our senators. Every year, they initiate increasingly more laws inspired by life and proposed by Federation entities. Over the past year, they have submitted 321 draft laws, some of them jointly with State Duma deputies. Incidentally, our cooperation with the lower house is based on mutual understanding and close contact.

We are proud that our team now includes participants in the special military operation, combat officers, Heroes of Russia. The senators and I often meet with participants in the special military operation, listen to their proposals, take them into account and work on them.

Mr President, you have clearly outlined six systemic tasks for 2026 during a recent meeting of the Presidential Council for Strategic Development and National Projects. We have added them to our plan of work for the next year.

I also want to say that we carefully watched the recent Direct Line where you reviewed the key results of the year. The main impression we drew from that nationwide dialogue is our confidence that Russia will firmly continue to work towards achieving its strategic goals.

I believe that the atmosphere and tone of the Direct Line has shown that our people not just support your policy but are ready to take an active part in the life of our Fatherland. No other country has this format of an hours-long un-orchestrated conversation of the national leader with the country. Moreover, I believe that an opportunity for every citizen of Russia to appeal to the President and receive a detailed, honest and respectful answer is one of the most important factors of the unity and consolidation of Russian society.

But the main thing is that the more than two million appeals will be taken into account at the respective levels of authority, including senators.

We fully share your assessment that modern Russia is a truly strong, self-sufficient, sovereign and self-confident country optimistic about its future, a country with the best army in the world. With our modern weapons that have no analogues, we do not fear anyone, and nobody will be able to split or unbalance our state and society.

It is an objective fact that this would have been impossible without your strong will and the titanic and colossal effort, which you, Mr President, have put into the development of Russia. You often say that Russia’s strength lies in our diversity. As the house of the regions, we highly appreciate your decision to declare 2026 the Year of Russian Peoples' Unity.

The whole of our boundless and united country is represented in this room. Spanning from the Caucasus to Yakutia, from Donetsk to Kamchatka, and from Kaliningrad to Sakhalin, it is our boundless, multifaceted and united Russia.

It is Russia’s historical destiny to be a great power. As our anthem says, “So it was, so it is and it will always be so!” The truth is on our side – historical truth, people’s truth, and human truth. With a national leader like you, victory will certainly be ours.

Colleagues, with great pleasure, I am giving the floor to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Ms Matviyenko, senators of the Russian Federation, colleagues, friends,

First of all, I would like to wish you a happy upcoming New Year.

Both houses of the Russian Parliament are finishing the autumn session with good results. You had a great deal to do. You have adopted a series of important legislative decisions in the interests of the country and our citizens, for strengthening our national security and developing the economy and social sphere.

The outgoing year was especially important for senators also because we marked 25 years since the first profound reform of the Federation Council, as Ms Matviyenko has mentioned just now, one of the largest reforms in state building at the turn of the 21^st century.

I would like to remind you about the essence of that reform. The 1993 Constitution, as you know, but I would like to recall this for us and for our citizens, provided for electing the Federation Council of the first convocation for a two-year term. It was a transitional and temporary decision.

Later, the heads of the regions and legislative assemblies could sit ex officio in both their regional executive posts and within the Federation Council on a personal basis, and I would like to emphasise that they performed their parliamentary duties diligently, professionally and enthusiastically, doing a great deal for the country and for preserving the unity of our state during that difficult period that was transitional in every sense of the word.

The burden on them was considerable, not to mention the fact that holding multiple jobs – governing the regions and adopting federal laws – created a dual status, because the executive and legislative branches are two different things. This also eroded responsibility for the implementation of decisions.

We understand that adopting a law and at the same time being responsible for its implementation creates problems. However, I believe that we managed to address these problems; we solved them because we recognised that it influenced the entire system of government.

This is why I suggested changing the way the Federation Council was formed in 2000, so that each region would be represented by two members of parliament in the upper chamber working there in a permanent and professional manner and with the ability to focus on legislation. This was a way to ensure that the federal, regional and local development agendas are all better aligned and that the position of the Russian regions is taken into account and that they are heard in the national decision-making process on key matters.

It was at that time, a quarter of a century ago, that we de facto shaped the way the Federation Council operates today. More items appeared on the agenda of its committees and commissions. And the quality of the chamber’s meaningful work on draft laws also improved. As a result, as I have already said, this gave regions a bigger voice at the federal level, at least in terms of the legislative process. They received new opportunities for addressing the challenges they faced on the ground, improving the quality of life for their people, unlocking their economic potential and competitive advantages, and taking on the role of the building blocks of sustainable development for the entire nation.

After that, there were efforts to streamline and adjust the way the Federation Council was formed. In 2012, there was an initiative to link the formation of the Federation Council with the electoral process by having aspiring governors release a list of three potential senators ahead of the election. As for the regional legislative assemblies, they could only be represented by a democratically elected member of regional parliament. This enhanced the upper chamber’s legitimacy and representative function.

In addition to this, we have set forth professional requirements for Federation Council members, including the imperative to maintain personal, direct contacts with their respective regions. The substantive and systemic constitutional amendments in 2020 offered us an opportunity to update and expand the requirements in terms of professional duties. All members of the parliamentary corps contributed to drafting these amendments.

The very term “senator,” previously unofficial, was enshrined in law at that time. New powers were also introduced for your colleagues in the State Duma and for the Federation Council itself in terms of parliamentary oversight, influence on personnel policy in the judicial system and the prosecutor’s office, and consultations on the appointment of Government members responsible for foreign policy, justice, and the security sector.

I know that the Federation Council approaches these matters professionally, thoroughly, and with utmost responsibility. Frankly, nothing less was expected. I am confident in your professionalism and truly statesmanlike approach and I count on continuing our close collaboration as before.

Let me reiterate: the titles of positions and the methods of forming the Federation Council have changed over the years – more than once, as I have just mentioned. But its legal and political nature, its purpose – one might say, its mission – remain unchanged.

This is, above all, its key role in the legislative process. It is the participation in making significant state decisions and strengthening the country’s international standing through parliamentary diplomacy.

Naturally, the Federation Council serves to ensure the interconnection between levels of public authority. This is extremely important for our Federation uniting 89 regions. In their vast diversity, distinctiveness, and – I emphasise – unity lies our wealth, as Ms Matviyenko also noted earlier – and here lies the constructive power of multinational Russia.

Today, our strategic plans and development programmes encompass the entire country – from Kaliningrad to the Kuril Islands, from the Arctic latitudes to Crimea, Donbass, and the Caucasus.

Indeed, we understand that the success of such large-scale work depends directly on the steps taken by the federal executive and legislative authorities. Nonetheless, such plans are implemented and brought to life precisely on the ground, in specific regions, cities, and towns.

I am addressing both you and the Government: we need to be more active, more thorough in involving the regions in efforts to elaborate new solutions for national issues and ensure proper oversight of their implementation. The same applies to representatives of public and non-profit organisations, veteran and youth entities, the business community, local expert panels, and civic associations.

They must have greater opportunities and effective mechanisms to contribute to the achievement of our national development goals. By expanding the scope for such initiative, we will strengthen the institutions of federalism. They are vital for the future of the country.

I know that the Federation Council regularly holds Days of Russian Regions with offsite events. I would like to ask you to continue boosting the regions’ engagement in this joint work.

Every constituent entity of the Federation has its own growth points and strengths, which must be identified and supported. This is a sacred duty for all of us. Each Russian senator is a politician and a lawmaker.

At the same time, you are also integral to the management teams of your respective regions. Not only are you expected to perfectly understand people’s interests, needs and wishes, but you must also protect them and ensure they are never removed from the national agenda or out of sight of the ministries, agencies and executive authorities.

Your authority and people’s trust, the title of a senator of your respective region bring enormous honour and responsibility. You must certainly demonstrate this day after day with every word, action, tangible and substantive results, and your service to the country and the people.

In the same context, I want to highlight something that has already been said: right now, there are nine Heroes of Russia, veterans of the special military operation among you. The Federation Council itself has become a talent factory for career politicians. After serving as senators, your colleagues are appointed to high-ranking posts in the federal government bodies; they become heads of constituent entities or work in legislative assemblies.

I see people in this hall who previously served as heads of regions and now work here. Some members of the upper house subsequently become members of the Government or heads of Russian regions. This is an excellent practice that makes the Federation Council a true talent factory. Over these 25 years, almost 800 people have gained working experience in the house of the regions.

The composition of the Federation Council and other government bodies will undoubtedly continue to update according to law – gradually, regularly and in line with the schedule of single election days. I am confident that the high quality and continuity of the legislative process and professional traditions of the Federation Council will be secured without fail.

Colleagues,

Thank you for your work and for your persistent attention to our heroes, combat veterans, their families, to the issues of our demographic agenda which is our priority, to the problems of legal and socioeconomic integration of our historical regions and, of course, for your involvement in the work on the federal budget that reflects all these and other priorities. Thank you for your steadfast support of our course for strengthening and developing Russia.

This sort of accord and devotion to Russia’s national interests is exceptionally important for both houses of parliament; they are vital for the country. In times of historical challenges and global transformations, they are simply invaluable.

Thank you for that.

Once again, Happy New Year!

Presenting Gold Star medals to special military operation participants

2025-12-17T20:36:41+04:00

Following the extended meeting of the Defence Ministry Board, the President presented Gold Star medals of the Hero of the Russian Federation to participants of the special military operation.

The award ceremony was also attended by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – First Deputy Defence Minister Valery Gerasimov.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, comrades,

I am pleased to congratulate you on your well-deserved military awards and present you with the Hero of Russia Gold Stars.

You and your fellow soldiers liberated Seversk, an important Russian city, in extremely difficult conditions by rapidly overcoming the enemy’s powerful and layered defences.

This and other similarly brilliant military operations were the result of the consistent and comprehensive work of the command, the leadership of the Southern Military District headquarters, unit commanders, and servicemen of individual brigades.

But first and foremost, this is the result of your efforts, enormous personal courage and dedication of the soldiers and officers, thanks to which strategic towns were liberated opportunities opned up for our troops to advance further in the most critical areas and directions.

Comrades,

We are proud of you and your comrades-in-arms, participants in this special military operation. You are standing guard over Russia, defending the security of the country and its citizens, and courageously fighting for a dignified future for our people.

Those present here are professionals, brave warriors, and true patriots of the Motherland. I thank you and all your comrades for your valiant service and your loyalty to the Fatherland. I am confident that with courageous people like you, we will achieve all our goals.

Once again, I congratulate you on being awarded the high title of Hero of Russia and wish you continued success. Please convey my sincere words of support and gratitude to your comrades, your families, and your friends.

I wish you good health and all the very best. Thank you for your service.

Commander of the 3^rd Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District, Lieutenant General Igor Kuzmenkov: I extend my gratitude for this high honour.

This is not merely a recognition – it is a significant responsibility which I do not perceive as a personal achievement. Primarily, it is an appraisal of my entire military collective, the personnel of the 3^rd Combined Arms Army, who continue to execute combat missions in the special military operation zone.

I wish to express my gratitude to the fighters, particularly those in my assault units, for the courage, heroism, and selflessness they have demonstrated in fulfilling their assigned tasks. It is they who are now at the forefront of the struggle, risking their lives every day, honourably executing the tasks you have set for the liberation of our ancestral lands, restoring historical justice, and ensuring the security of Russian citizens.

On this day, I would like to express special gratitude to all those who await our fighters at home, and particularly to their parents. I bow my head to them for instilling in their children a proper understanding of duty, honour, and conscience. It is thanks to this parental upbringing that our warriors display miracles of heroism and steadfastness on the battlefield.

We will do everything necessary to achieve our common goals and bring victory closer.

I serve Russia!

Vladimir Putin: Comrades,

Once again, I congratulate you on these state decorations.

This is, without exaggeration, one of those instances where, as our people say, the award has found its hero. This is neither a joke nor irony – this is precisely what is happening in reality.

I would like to underscore the following: as we walked here, we spoke with the Minister and noted the level of cohesion and unity currently present in the Armed Forces. Yes, as I mentioned earlier at the board meeting, surely, in such large and vast collectives, all manner of things exist – we are human, after all. But overall, this solidarity, mutual support, attention, and care for one another are of immense significance.

No matter whom I have met, no matter whom I have spoken to, and no matter the subject of conversation, practically every one of my interlocutors has always mentioned the comrades fighting and living alongside them – individuals just like themselves. There is always a request not to forget about them, always an emphasis that their comrade-in-arms deserves the same awards, the same attention from the state.

Such an attitude cannot be bought with money; it is present both among our people towards the army and among servicemen towards one another. It is a reflection of the attitude towards the Motherland. This is invaluable. Herein lies the foundation, the bedrock of all our victories.

I congratulate you on your state decorations. I wish you all the best in the coming year, and I wish you a Happy New Year. All the best to you and your loved ones.

Thank you for your service.

Expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board

2026-01-04T13:37:09+04:00

The President took part in an expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre of the Russian Federation.

Minister of Defence Andrei Belousov delivered a report at the meeting. The minister outlined the results of the effort to implement the Ministry’s ten priorities, which had been identified at the Board’s meeting last year, and set out the tasks for 2026. The priorities include ensuring the achievement of the goals of the special military operation; modernising the Armed Forces over the long term, taking into account external threats and advances in innovative technologies; upgrading the military education system; providing medical support for servicemen and their family members; providing social support for military servicemen and their family members; establishing a feedback system for servicemen; developing military and military-technical cooperation; enhancing the efficiency of the construction industry and property complex; optimising the internal processes at the Ministry of Defence; and creating a unified digital environment within the Ministry of Defence.

* * *

The President’s remarks at the expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Belousov, Comrades,

Today, at the expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board, we will discuss our results over the past period and identify priority tasks for strengthening the Armed Forces and enhancing the country’s defence capability.

I would like to highlight that the past year has been a significant milestone in addressing the objectives of the special military operation. The Russian Army has taken and firmly holds the strategic initiative along the entire frontline.

Our troops are advancing with confidence and grinding down the hostile forces, defeating enemy units, its groups forces and reserves, including so-called elite formations trained in Western centres and equipped with modern foreign weaponry.

To date, over 300 communities have been liberated this year, among them major urban centres that the enemy had transformed into heavily fortified strongholds, extensively featuring permanent defensive structures. Yet, they proved unable to withstand the courage and superior military skill of our personnel.

The positions we have seized, the bridgeheads established in recent months, and the unique tactical and operational experience gained in breaching the enemy’s in-depth defences now enable us to intensify the pace of our advance in key strategic sectors. We take pride in the heroism of our soldiers and officers on the front lines, and of all who stand in defence of Russia and the safety of our citizens.

I would also like to acknowledge our comrades-in-arms from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. By the decision of Comrade Chairman of State Affairs Kim Jong-un, DPRK personnel were deployed to participate in the liberation of the Kursk Region. They fought with valour and courage alongside Russian soldiers against the enemy and took part in the large-scale and exceptionally difficult mission of demining the liberated Kursk soil.

It is our duty to forever honour the memory of all our fallen comrades and to support their families, their children and parents. The state will fulfil all necessary obligations in this regard. I ask you now to observe a moment of silence in memory of those who gave their lives for the Motherland.

(A moment of silence.)

Comrades, members of the board,

We are aware that that the Kiev regime is backed by the potential of the countries comprising the world’s largest military-political bloc, NATO. Large-scale military assistance is being continuously provided, with advisers, instructors, and mercenaries dispatched, and intelligence data shared.

Amidst such challenging conditions, our troops demonstrate high combat readiness and proficiency. The capabilities of the Russian army are being constantly enhanced, and efforts to strengthen the Armed Forces have been unwavering in recent years.

I refer to the improvement of their combat composition, qualitative advancements in the military command system, in operational and combat training, and, naturally, the increased efficiency of the defence industry, which has rapidly reconfigured numerous production and technological processes and is manufacturing essential products in ever-growing volumes.

Owing to the precise work of the defence-industrial complex, the army and navy are promptly equipped with modern weaponry and hardware. The Ground Forces are receiving missile systems and artillery with high-precision capabilities, loitering munitions, a diverse range of unmanned aerial vehicles, and robotic systems.

The Aerospace Forces are being supplied with upgraded missiles and aerial bombs equipped with guided planning and correction modules, capable of operating effectively in complex jamming environments. Many here are aware of the marked improvement in efficacy achieved recently – at times exceeding 80 percent. I wish to express my gratitude to those involved in this work. This constitutes substantive and tangible support.

This year, the Navy has been augmented with new submarines, including the Knyaz Pozharsky strategic missile submarine cruiser, as well as 19 surface combatants and support vessels.

Successful tests have been conducted for the Burevestnik strategic cruise missile with unlimited range and the Poseidon unmanned submersible. Given their nuclear propulsion systems, these platforms will remain unique and unmatched for the foreseeable future, ensuring Russia’s strategic parity, security, and global standing for decades to come. We will continue to develop these systems, enhancing and perfecting them, but they are already in service.

By the end of the year, the medium-range missile system armed with the Oreshnik hypersonic missile will be placed on combat duty. Its first operational deployment was conducted last November.

The high standards of training of our units and formations, and their ability to fulfil the most complicated tasks have been reaffirmed during regular exercises, including with the participation of our foreign allies and partners, with whom we share the experience we have accumulated during the special military operation.

In particular, I would like to mention the good results demonstrated during the Zapad 2025 joint strategic exercise. All objectives involving the protection of the security of the Union State from potential external aggression have been achieved.

Today, we can see that the geopolitical situation remains tense throughout the world, and even critical in some regions. NATO countries are actively building up and modernising their offensive forces, and creating and deploying new types of weapons, including in outer space.

Meanwhile, people in Europe are being indoctrinated with fears of an inevitable confrontation with Russia, with claims that preparations must be made for a major war. Various figures who have held or continue to hold positions of responsibility appear to have simply forgotten what that responsibility entails.

They are whipping up hysteria, guided by momentary, personal or group political interests rather than the interests of their people. I have said many times that this is a lie and an irrational narrative about an imaginary Russian threat to European countries. But they are doing this deliberately.

The truth is that Russia has always, until the last possible moment tried, even in the most complicated circumstances, to find diplomatic solutions to differences and conflicts. Responsibility for the failure to use these chances lies squarely with those who believe that they can use the language of force with us.

We continue to call for developing mutually beneficial and equal cooperation with the United States and European countries, and for creating a joint security system in the Eurasian region. We welcome nascent progress in our dialogue with the new US administration, which cannot be said of the current leaders of the majority of European countries.

At the same time, we realise that our Armed Forces remain the key guarantor of Russia’s sovereignty and independence in any international situation. As I have stated, we must work consistently to strengthen them.

What I would like to emphasise here are the objectives to be set in the area of military development, taking into account the dynamics of the situation along the line of contact, among other factors.

First. The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means. However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means. The task of creating and expanding a security buffer zone will also be carried out consistently.

Second. Work on modernising the Armed Forces must continue at a rapid pace and to a high standard, primarily within the framework of the new State Armament Programme for 2027˗2036, which is currently under development.

As I have repeatedly emphasised, the experience gained during the special military operation, emerging trends in combat tactics, and rapidly developing military technologies must be fully taken into account.

Key areas of the state programme include air and missile defence systems, command and control systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in all environments.

Of course, improving our strategic nuclear forces remains a priority. As before, they will play a decisive role in deterring aggression and maintaining the global balance of power.

Today, Russia marks Strategic Missile Forces Day. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate veterans, service members, and civilian personnel of the Strategic Missile Forces on their professional holiday and to wish them continued success and all the very best.

Third. The Russian army must continue to remain at the forefront of technological progress. This means accelerating the introduction of robotics, information technologies, and new materials into the Armed Forces, as well as expanding the use of artificial intelligence in command and control systems and autonomous combat platforms.

Fourth. It is essential to equip the orbital constellation with next-generation spacecraft. This will provide the troops with high-speed, secure communications, while also significantly improving the quality of intelligence and high-precision navigation data.

Next. In May of this year, the Strategy for the Development of the Navy until 2050 was approved, outlining its prospective configuration. The clear and timely implementation of this strategy will enable the modernisation of the Navy and enhance its effectiveness in carrying out combat tasks across all theatres of military operations.

Furthermore, it is imperative to continue actively developing military and military-technical cooperation with foreign countries – our allies and partners – to strengthen the collective security system and the Union State. Overall, efforts in this direction constitute a significant factor in enhancing regional and international security.

Comrades,

One of the state’s priorities is the expansion of social guarantees for participants of the special military operation and their family members, as well as for all our servicemen.

Over the past year, the Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the Defenders of the Fatherland State Foundation, has made substantial progress in improving the quality of medical care for wounded servicemen, addressing their rehabilitation and employment needs, ensuring timely payments, and implementing other measures, including additional forms of social support for the families, children, and parents of fallen servicemen.

I must emphasise that there remains work to be done here. Currently, in preparation for the Direct Line, it has become evident that many questions on these topics are being raised. We will undoubtedly revisit this matter with the leadership of the Ministry of Defence.

I would particularly like to commend the heroic efforts of medical officers and personnel, who often perform the impossible to save our fighters and return them to active duty after treatment. Unique experience has been gained in providing medical and psychological support to servicemen with injuries, trauma, and illnesses related to combat operations.

This experience must be incorporated not only into the work of military medical institutions, but also into civilian healthcare, and must be enshrined in legislation.

Undoubtedly, efforts to index servicemen’s monetary allowances must continue, and the pace of providing them with permanent and service housing must not decline. Every Defender of the Motherland must be confident that the state will provide them and their loved ones with all necessary social support.

In conclusion, I would like to once again express my gratitude to the soldiers and officers currently on the front lines, to all participants of the special military operation for their heroism and dedication, and to extend my best wishes to the leadership, all personnel, and civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence for further achievements in service to the Motherland and our people.

I firmly believe that you will continue to steadfastly safeguard the sovereignty and security of Russia.

Thank you for your attention.

The floor is yours, Mr Belousov.

<…>

Excerpts from a report by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov

Ensuring the achievement of the special military operation’s objectives. Throughout the year, the Armed Forces have confidently retained the strategic initiative in their hands and conducted offensive operations across almost all frontline directions. According to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, more than 300 urban and rural areas and over 6,000 square kilometres of territory have been liberated this year which is one third more than last year. Also, the rate of advance of the East, Centre, and West groups of forces has been up by 50 to 100 percent compared to 2024.

These figures mean liberation of the Kursk Region and elimination of the Ukrainian forces’ key defensive hubs in Donbass and Zaporozhye. Ultimately, what was obvious from the very beginning has been confirmed: the collapse of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s defence is inevitable. Finally, Kiev’s Western patrons clearly came to realise this as well.

Overall, as a result of successful operations by the Joint Group of Forces, the combat potential of the Ukrainian armed forces has been reduced by one third this year.

First, they have lost over 103,000, including nearly 5,500 Western-made, units of weapons and military equipment which is almost double compared to 2024. Also, Ukraine’s security forces have lost nearly 500,000 servicemen, and Kiev is now unable to replenish its units through forced mobilisation.

Second, the Ukrainian military-industrial complex’s capability to serially produce military goods has been almost halved. The effectiveness of Russian targeted strikes is about 60 percent, which is by an order of magnitude higher than the effectiveness of Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.

Third, over 70 percent of the thermal power plants and more than 37 percent of hydroelectric power plants supplying energy to the military industry and the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been put out of operation, thus cutting Ukraine’s energy capacity by more than half. This has directly impacted Ukraine’s ability to fight back.

The sustainable refitting of the Armed Forces is a key component of our success on the battlefield. This year’s manpower plan has been exceeded. Nearly 410,000 men voluntarily joined military service under contract, almost two thirds of them young people under 40, and more than a third with higher or secondary specialised education.

Unfaltering supplies of weapons and military equipment are critical to successful combat missions. The volume of supplies of key types of weapons, military equipment, and ammunition to the troops increased by one third this year compared to 2024.

As a result, despite high-intensity combat operations, the level of supply of the Joint Group of Forces has not decreased but rather increased by six percentage points to 92 percent, and to 80 percent in frontline units.

The needs of the troops for aircraft and helicopters, artillery weapons, rear-area equipment, and medical equipment have been met almost in full. The earlier problem of artillery shell shortage has been largely overcome.

Next year, it is imperative to replenish electronic warfare assets, especially at the tactical level, including surface-to-air guided missiles, radar stations, and counter-battery warfare systems.

The special military operation has given a boost to the development of new types of weapons and combat systems. This year, more than 1,000 items have undergone testing in combat conditions, including new Geran-2 unmanned aerial vehicles with an improved guidance system, loitering munitions, fiber-optic FPV drones, the Kurier ground-based fire robotic complex, and the Omich-Ogonyok transport platform, to name a few.

Maintaining and increasing the current pace of the offensive is the key objective for the next year.

With respect to the political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the so-called Ukrainian conflict, we clearly see attempts by European leaders and the Kiev regime to evade any resolution of this issue. This pertains specifically to the prolongation of the conflict with the aim of maximally weakening our country.

Simultaneously, the accelerated preparation of NATO’s combined armed forces for confrontation with Russia by the 2030s has begun. Such a policy creates real preconditions for the protraction of hostilities into the next year, 2026.

In this regard, it is necessary to continue imposing our will on the adversary, acting pre-emptively, and constantly improving the methods and techniques of armed combat. We must persist in breaking through the defences of the AFU and destroying their military formations.

Regarding the change in the nature of combat operations, several distinctive features can be highlighted this year.

The first feature is the significant increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, which have assumed the role of the primary strike force. Currently, up to half of the adversary’s losses are attributed to FPV drones.

While last year, the adversary held the advantage in the combat application of tactical UAVs, a turning point occurred in August of this year, and today we have achieved a twofold quantitative superiority over the enemy. Simultaneously, the scope of UAV operations has expanded to include reconnaissance, counter-battery warfare, and the delivery of ammunition and supplies to the front lines.

In this context, a key issue is the formation of a new branch of the armed forces – the unmanned systems forces – as discussed at the previous board meeting. The following results have been achieved in this regard.

At the forefront of these forces are the Rubicon detachments, which have destroyed more than 13,000 units of weaponry and equipment, accounting for over a quarter of the firepower impact of unmanned aviation. The Rubicon Centre has gained international recognition. Its combat experience has been featured in publications by major international outlets, including American and British ones, while the Kiev regime has declared Rubicon a threat to national security.

Next year, the formation of unmanned systems forces must be completed, transitioning from the execution of individual tasks by groups and crews to comprehensive joint operations within units and military formations.

It will also be necessary to equip the unmanned systems forces with new types of jam-resistant reconnaissance and strike UAVs, including those with artificial intelligence, as well as ground control stations, relay systems, autonomous power sources, and communication equipment.

The second feature of combat operations is the adversary’s attempts to curb the pace of our offensive by creating a so-called drone line. This constitutes a 10–15-kilometre zone where everything is subject to destruction through the layered deployment of UAVs for various purposes.

Anticipating the adversary’s actions, Russian forces are refining their tactics, methods, and techniques. The speed at which units move to the forward edge has increased, and their protection against drones has been enhanced.

This necessitates additional provision of modern mobile transport assets. This year, over 38,000 motorcycles, quad bikes, and buggies have been delivered to the troops – ten times more than last year. Next year, we aim to achieve near-complete provision of these assets to the troops.

A special role in protecting assault groups from enemy UAVs is played by trench electronic warfare (EW) systems, which have proven their effectiveness. These include systems such as Obereg, Peroyed, Silok, Sosedka, and others.

Since the beginning of the year, over 130,000 EW systems have been delivered to the front lines – 6.5 times more than last year. Nevertheless, it remains imperative to continue equipping units on the line of contact with effective EW systems and tactical electronic warfare means. This is one of the key tasks for the coming year.

Regarding enemy drone and cruise missile strikes deep into Russian territory. At the start of the year, the adversary launched an average of 1,500 long-range drones per month, increasing to 3,700 per month since May. Our air defence forces have maintained an average effectiveness of 97 percent in repelling attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

It remains crucial to continue strengthening our air and missile defence lines with reliable systems for detecting and neutralising long-range drones and cruise missiles. This primarily involves the deployment of Pantsir missile systems, other short- and medium-range air defence missile systems, and radar stations, all of which have demonstrated proven effectiveness.

Next, we have begun deploying a fundamentally new segment of the air defence system based on FPV interceptors, whose effectiveness has already been demonstrated. The formation and full equipping of crews for this system must be completed in the first half of 2026.

We will continue to establish mobile fire teams, outfitting them with the most effective weapons, including the Verba MANPADS, as well as the Zubr and Citadel anti-aircraft systems, and we will equip army aviation units with new UAV interceptors.

I would like to emphasise the significantly enhanced role of regional headquarters in ensuring comprehensive territorial defence against drones. The successful experience of establishing an air defence system around Moscow is particularly noteworthy and should be applied more broadly as part of a unified air defence network, in line with the recent instructions of the President of the Russian Federation.

Overall, the outcomes of the special military operation show that we maintain an advantage over the enemy in technology, methods, and tactics of armed conflict. It is essential to preserve this edge, creating conditions for further offensive operations and the successful achievement of the objectives of the special military operation. These conditions have now been fully established.

On the long-term modernisation of the Armed Forces, with consideration of external threats and advances in innovative technologies. An analysis of the military-political situation indicates that the nature of military security threats has changed significantly over the past three years. The North Atlantic Alliance continues to strengthen its coalition forces, actively preparing for the deployment of medium-range missiles, updating its nuclear munitions, modernising air and missile defence systems, and reforming its mobilisation and deployment structure. The speed of troop deployment to the eastern flank is accelerating, supported by plans for the establishment of the so-called military Schengen zone.

Military spending [within the Alliance] is rising sharply. Its current annual budget stands at $1.6 trillion. With a planned gradual increase to five percent of member states’ GDP, NATO’s budget is expected to grow by more than 50 percent, reaching $2.7 trillion.

These developments indicate that NATO is preparing for a potential military confrontation with Russia, aiming to achieve full readiness by the late 2030s. NATO officials have openly acknowledged this. It is not Russia that poses the threat – rather, Russia faces the threat.

In view of significant military security threats, we are building modern and technology-intensive Armed Forces. I will cover the most essential aspects now.

First, we concentrate on the development of strategic nuclear forces. The nuclear forces are the key element in deterring aggression against our country. To increase their combat capabilities, the maritime component has been extended this year with the Borei class nuclear-powered submarine cruiser Knyaz Pozharsky, armed with Bulava missiles. We continue the construction of two more submarines of the same class.

The Aerospace Forces have been extended with two Tupolev Tu-160M strategic missile carrier bombers. The rearmament of the Aerospace Forces with Yars strategic missile systems continues. As the President noted, the land-based mobile missile system with Oreshnik medium-range missiles will be placed on full combat alert by the end of the year.

Equipping the Armed Forces with modern arms and equipment is crucial. This year, we have finished determining the parameters of the State Armament Programme for 2027–2036. The new 2036 State Armament Programme is based on four fundamental principles.

First, clear prioritisation. Our top-priority systems include armaments that will define the prospective innovative image of the Armed Forces.

These include strategic nuclear forces, space systems, anti-aircraft systems, communication systems, radioelectronic warfare and control systems, unmanned systems and robotic devices, as well as weapons built on highly innovative technology. Top priority systems account for almost half of our spending under the State Armament Programme.

Second, developing the State Armament Programme based on the requirements of the prospective combat capabilities of the Armed Forces as opposed to the quantity of weapons and equipment as before. For example, for the strategic nuclear forces, it is the capability to overcome potential enemy’s defences. For anti-aircraft defence, it is the capability to deflect airborne threats. For space groups, it is the capability to provide detailed reconnaissance, high-speed connectivity, and generate navigation data for high-precision weapons.

Third, synchronising research and development works, weapon procurement and infrastructure development. This approach allows for planning not only supplies of specific types of weapons but their entire lifecycle, from development to commissioning.

Fourth, increasing the productivity of military industry facilities must be taken into account when developing the State Armament Programme. It is expected that, by increasing productivity, we can cut expenses by at least one or two percent every year, which should positively affect contractual prices and our cost-saving efforts.

We should particularly focus on implementing AI technology in the military, boosting combat effectiveness and accelerating command decisions across all levels. This year, we have already launched supplies of AI-powered unmanned systems, with automatic target retention and navigation capabilities. We are set to multiply supplies next year.

On medical support for service personnel. The key objective is to provide first aid along the line of contact and to save a soldier’s life during the so-called Golden Hour following their injury.

Since early 2025, virtually all service personnel have been trained in tactical medicine requirements. First aid kits, developed in the context of combat experience, have been issued. Military units have received over 1.2 million various new-generation first aid kits, and this has made it possible to deliver them to every serviceman.

Our joint work with the Ministry of Healthcare and the Federal Medical-Biological Agency made it possible to provide some types of high-tech medical treatment near the forward edge of battle area (FEBA). For example, dry plasma makes it possible to treat service personnel (who have lost large amounts of blood) along the line of contact. I would like to note that over 90 percent of injured soldiers evacuated from the battlefield, have been saved.

Our next objective is to evacuate injured service personnel from the battlefield on time. Their survivability has been considerably enhanced by delivering them to medical institutions more quickly. It now takes 36 hours, rather than 40 hours, to deliver servicemen with complicated injuries to high-tech medical clinics.

This was made possible by providing enough ambulances to all the groups of forces. Armoured vehicles account for 86 percent of their required number, and this exceeds 2024 levels two times over. It is our objective to completely meet demand for these vehicles not later than in the first six months of 2026.

The experience of the special military operation shows that the use of robotic platforms is one of the most effective methods for evacuating soldiers from the battlefield. Since early 2025, military units received 288 robotic vehicles or just 20 percent of their required number. Next year, it is necessary to fully stock military units with this equipment. This highly important objective is directly linked with saving people’s lives.

I would like to say a few words about treating injured soldiers in hospitals. This year, we built six new hospitals, including in border regions, in the Kursk and Bryansk regions. One thousand new beds were installed for treating about 20,000 injured servicemen annually; all of them will receive timely treatment. Next year, we will open six more hospitals with 1,500 beds.

The conversion to a new system for rehabilitating injured service personnel is another key objective. By involving leading regional prosthetic and orthopaedic enterprises and by providing targeted rehabilitation, it has now become possible to treat over 50 percent of all injured soldiers near their place of residence or service. Injured service personnel receive prosthetic appliances two times faster than last year, that is, in about three months.

Regarding the search for missing military personnel. This year, a main coordination centre was established, and procedures for registering missing service members were streamlined. A unified database was created and systematically organised, now containing records for virtually all missing personnel. Specialised detachments and evacuation teams have been formed within operational groups and placed under the authority of the main coordination centre.

Public and volunteer organisations have also become actively involved in search efforts, producing tangible results. Compared to last year, the number of service members located has tripled, reaching 48 percent of the total number of missing persons, meaning that one out of every two individuals has been found. Next year, this figure must go up to 60 percent or higher.

To strengthen our capabilities in locating missing personnel, electronic dog tags will be introduced for military service members beginning next year. A military-technical pilot project testing these tags within the Centre and Dnepr groups has produced positive results.

With regard to military and military-technical cooperation, this year we initiated a shift toward a long-term, comprehensive framework for planning engagement with our partners. This includes the introduction of a new format for three- and five-year cooperation plans.

These are detailed action plans that comprehensively encompass all areas of cooperation, including the exchange of experience across various aspects of military affairs, specialist training, joint exercises, other practical forms of interaction, as well as military-technical assistance and cooperation.

Such documents have already been signed with eight countries, including Belarus and several states in Central and Southeast Asia. Next year, similar cooperation plans are expected to be concluded with six more countries.

We have also moved to a new system for promoting Russian weapons among our allies and partners. Demonstrations of combat capabilities are being conducted for foreign delegations, aligned with the modernisation programmes of their armed forces. The Patriot Expo is being actively utilised for these purposes.

Representatives from more than 20 countries have taken part in this initiative over the past year. This approach has had a positive impact on military-technical cooperation, allowing us, for the first time in several years, to reverse the downward trend in military exports and expand our portfolio of contracts.

Next year, we plan to establish the foundation for a new format of cooperation – a technological partnership between enterprises of the “people’s defence industry” and our allies. This will require streamlining licensing procedures for the export of products from the “people’s defence industry,” while ensuring strict and unconditional control over critical military technologies.

With regard to multilateral cooperation, interaction with the armed forces of CSTO, CIS, and SCO member states has been significantly strengthened. This has enhanced the level of joint force interoperability, as well as coordination in joint air and maritime patrols. A total of 23 international exercises have been conducted.

The largest of these activities was the Zapad-2025 joint strategic exercise, which involved military contingents from four foreign states and observers from ten countries. This work should be continued, particularly in view of Russia’s upcoming chairmanship in the CSTO.

Establishing a single digital environment in the Ministry of Defence. This year we began developing an integrated information system for the Defence Ministry. We have completed its interface, functional standards and technical solutions, determined its key technological partner – Rostelecom – and entered into relevant contracts with the company.

Next year we plan to put into pilot operation at least 15 services in such areas as social and housing security, education, property management and public procurement. At last, we will start converting our paperwork to the paperless format. This work is to be completed in December 2027.

Regarding financing issues. In 2025, the Defence Ministry worked under tough financial restrictions stemming from the federal budget capabilities. At the same time, combat operations required more military expenditures. All this called for rigorous optimising and prioritising the military budget and restructuring its internal mechanism, its planning and execution.

The expenses not directly related to combat operations were subject to austerity measures. Some expenses were deferred, some reduced. It let us cut such expenses in general; speaking in terms of their share in the GDP – from 2.7 percent in 2024, to 2.2 percent in 2025.

As for the military budget part directly related to the special military operation, it has grown. However, a series of measures were implemented in this area as well, which made it possible to significantly limit this growth.

As a result of these measures in 2025, we have saved almost one trillion roubles. In total, the Defense Ministry’s expenses in 2025 made up 7.3 percent of the GDP. In 2026, prioritszation will allow us to stabilise them at the same level or even cut them.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Comrades,

I would like to thank the Minister for providing a detailed analysis of the status of matters in the Armed Forces and along the line of contact.

As is customary, I will share a few general considerations with you. I will probably not say anything that you do not already know, but I still believe it is important to say it.

I would like to begin with our recent history, with the most recent developments, in order to have a clear idea of where we are now and why we are where we are.

You have heard me say it many times before, yet I think it is worth saying it again. Shortly after the Soviet Union had fallen apart, we thought we would quickly become members of the “civilised” family of European nations and the civilised Western family more broadly. Today, it turns out that civilisation there is nonexistent, and degradation is all there is there, but that is not the point. Back then, we thought it was a good thing and that we would become a full-fledged and equal member of that family. Nothing of the kind happened. You see? Nothing of the kind happened, and we did not become an equal member of that family.

On the contrary, they started going after Russia from all angles, and even ratcheted the pressure up. Almost everything concerning Russia was decided from a position of strength. They would pat us on the shoulder and invite us to attend various events, but the West used force, including military force, to push its Russia-related interests.

Truly so. Supporting separatism and terrorism was clearly demonstrated and carried out by supplying terrorists with weapons and money and providing them with political and media support across the board. Economic restrictions were imposed on us as well, and that, too, is about forceful pressure, and a very serious one at that.

I remember this very well. When we said that we needed to protect our country against terrorism, we were told to do whatever we needed to, but not to do certain things or else we will not be eligible for loans or renewed easy terms.” This was direct forceful pressure and outright restriction in the economic sphere.

Destructive instruments aimed at destabilising Russia from within were also deployed – and this was entirely deliberate. We have seen the same pattern in other countries: mechanisms for undermining domestic political stability were created and put to use.

Of course, by then, the entire post-war security architecture had ceased to function. Everything began to erode rapidly, and the established rules, along with the UN Charter, were cast aside. Consider the events in Yugoslavia. How did that align with the UN Charter? Was that not the use of force? We have spoken of this many times, but the fact remains: they simply did as they saw fit, acting at their own discretion. They would manipulate the situation and force a vote if they could. If not, to hell with it – they applied armed force directly. In the end, they ravaged and dismantled Yugoslavia and fractured the Serbian people, scattering a single nation across different state entities.

I will not dwell now on NATO expansion, though its role is obvious. Even today, we are told we have no right to dictate how others should ensure their security or to deprive them of their choices. We are not depriving anyone of anything. We are not making exceptional demands. We are simply insisting that the promises made to us be honoured. It was publicly stated that NATO would not expand eastward. What followed? They disregarded this entirely, and one wave of expansion followed another. I repeat: we are not asking for anything extraordinary – only that the assurances given to us be fulfilled.

I believe everyone here understands that agreements with the Soviet Union were treated one way, and agreements with modern Russia, after the USSR’s disintegration, quite another. All our interests were simply ignored.

This ultimately led to the coup in Ukraine. What kind of democracy is this, the one we have been lectured about for decades? It was a straightforward armed power grab. Had they gone to the polls – as I have said countless times – they would have won the elections fairly. Nothing stood in their way; victory was assured. But no – they simply demonstrated force, and that was that.

Thereafter, they began violently suppressing the southeast, their southeastern regions, effectively unleashing a war. It was not we who started the war in 2022; it was the destructive forces in Ukraine, backed by the West. In essence, the West itself instigated this conflict. We are only seeking to end it, to stop it. Initially, we pursued peaceful means through the Minsk negotiations, as you will recall. Eventually, we were compelled to introduce a military component once it became clear we were being deceived. That deception has since been laid bare: senior officials have stated unabashedly that they never intended to honour the agreements, but only to buy time to arm and equip Ukrainian forces. They engineered a coup, initiated military operations, and deliberately – I am convinced, deliberately – precipitated a war.

President Trump has said that had he been in office at the time, none of this would have happened. He may well be right. Because the previous administration deliberately brought matters to an armed conflict. And I think the reason is clear: they believed Russia could be swiftly broken up and dismantled. European “swine underlings” immediately joined the efforts of that previous American administration, hoping to profit from our country’s collapse: to reclaim what had been lost in earlier historical periods and to exact a form of revenge. As has now become evident to all, every one of those attempts, every destructive design against Russia, has ended in complete and total failure.

Russia has demonstrated its resilience in the economy, finance, domestic politics, the state of society, and, ultimately, in its defence capability. Yes, there are still many issues and problems in this area.

I can see people here in this hall who came directly from the front, from the frontlines, from the line of combat contact. They are sitting here, I see them. And they know better than anyone that the army still faces many problems; they encounter them every day.

And yet, our Armed Forces have become completely different –fundamentally different. The most important result of the special military operation is that Russia has regained its status as a fully sovereign state. Russia has become sovereign in every sense of the word. We have regained this status to a large extent thanks to your participation, thanks to the contribution of the Armed Forces.

Our army has become totally different. This applies to troop command, tactics, strategy, equipment, and the work and performance of the defence and industrial complex. This also concerns the strategic component: our nuclear shield is more updated than the nuclear component of any officially recognised nuclear power. How much modernised is it, over 80 percent?

Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov: Ninety-two percent.

Vladimir Putin: Our nuclear forces are 92 percent modernised. No other nuclear power in the world has such a level.

We have new armaments and new weapon systems. No one else in the world has these, and no one will for a long time. I have mentioned this before and we know Avangard, Burevestnik, and other systems.

Our ground forces are also growing and strengthening. Yes, I repeat, those who have come from the front know that many problems remain. But these troops are completely different now: they are battle-hardened. There is no other army like this in the world; it simply does not exist.

Yes, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are also going through the ordeal of military action. But, unfortunately for them, just as the Ukrainian state itself is disintegrating – symbolised by the “golden toilets” – their armed forces are also degrading. This is evidenced by the growing number of deserters: more than 100,000 criminal cases for desertion alone have been opened in Ukraine, and the total number of deserters is in the hundreds of thousands. This is a clear sign of degradation.

And our Armed Forces are on the rise. I repeat, much remains to be done, but it will all be done. We have always stated – and I want to reaffirm this – that we remain ready for negotiations and ready to resolve all the problems that have arisen in recent years through peaceful means. The United States administration has demonstrated such readiness, and we are engaged in dialogue with it. I hope the same will eventually occur in Europe. It is unlikely with the current political elites, but it will be inevitable as we continue to strengthen, if not with the present politicians, then with a change of political elites in Europe.

I would like to thank you for your dedicated work in 2025 and express my confidence and hope that all the challenges facing our country will be successfully resolved.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

All the best.

Presenting Gold Star medals to Heroes of Russia

2025-12-09T17:37:52+04:00

On Heroes of the Fatherland Day, the President presented Gold Star medals to Heroes of Russia. The ceremony took place in the Grand Kremlin Palace’s St George Hall.

Over 200 military personnel and civilians who have displayed extraordinary courage and heroism have been invited to the Kremlin. The participants include Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of the Russian Federation, holders of the Order of St George, and recipients of three or more Orders of Courage.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades,

Today, on Heroes of the Fatherland Day, we honour the great sons and daughters of Russia for their exceptional service to our country. We pay tribute to all those whose military and labour achievements, dedication, and courage have set a lasting example of devotion to the Fatherland.

Their names are enshrined in undying glory. Here in the Kremlin’s St George Hall, upholding the traditions dating back to Catherine the Great, and paying homage to generations of heroes, we affirm the enduring continuity of our nation’s thousand-year history.

We are bound together by pride in our Motherland and in the achievements and victories of our forebears. Throughout the ages, they defended our state’s sovereignty and our people’s freedom. They fought for the right to determine our own future and strove tirelessly to keep the country strong, to propel it forward, to open new horizons of growth, and to face the future with confidence.

We honour all those who have been recognised for their service with the titles of Hero of Russia or Hero of the Soviet Union, or who have been awarded the Order of St George or the Order of Glory.

Combatants, soldiers and officers, members of the special services and law enforcement, pioneers, cosmonauts, pilots, polar explorers, doctors, and civilians who have performed heroic deeds – all are united by their readiness to place the interests of the homeland above everything. Their lives stand as a powerful testament to the character, spirit, and inexhaustible strength of our people.

At this challenging time for our country, we see new evidence of the strength of our traditions of military glory, and the dignity with which our contemporaries keep them up, including very young people, the soldiers who are fighting on the front line.

I know due to personal contacts that people on the front line feel much stronger spiritual and blood bonds to their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, and that they are aware of this continuity and their responsibility for our forefathers’ legacy much more than ever before. Today, these decorations will be presented to our service personnel awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

They have demonstrated exceptional courage and valour while fulfilling their tasks in the zone of the special military operation, high professionalism, unwavering determination, and the ability to take the lead in extremely complicated combat conditions, while doing everything to ensure the advance of our forces in the key areas. Thank you for your service.

One of the gold stars will be presented posthumously to the family of Sergeant Nikita Afanasyev. Glory and eternal memory to our fallen comrades.

Friends,

Every act of heroism is rooted in the solid foundation of values, noble aspirations, unconquerable will and commitment to one’s duty and principles.

All these qualities are inherent in the people for whom risking life for the country’s achievements is an integral part of their profession. Today, I will present decorations to the test pilots who dedicated their lives to testing new types of military and civilian aircraft.

Serving the people, the Motherland and its present and future always adds special meaning to our deeds and actions. We can see this in the work of our engineers and scientists, who find breakthrough solutions to ensure national security, and in the selfless labour of personnel at defence plants and in many other spheres, who work every day to make Russia stronger and to contribute to its wellbeing and prosperity.

All of us now stand united in our admiration for the heroes, awareness of our responsibility to the country, our involvement in its fate, and sincere love for our Motherland. This love and this historical truth are the essence of our strength and the earnest of our victories.

Congratulations on Heroes of the Fatherland Day!

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Friends,

Today is a special day, but we always remember those who make such occasions possible: the people here, the people in this hall, their parents, their wives; because everything is forged within the family; it is in the family that a person finds their footing, both physically and mentally. Everything is formed there.

That is why our entire policy is centred around families. Some things turn out well, others better, others not as well, but the overarching goal, the general direction of our development, is focused on the family and on the Motherland, because the Motherland is our large, vast, close-knit family.

I am grateful for the kind words: someone said to me, someone asked: how do you work? You know, everyone gives their all in their own role. And I, for my part, cannot imagine how pilots carry out their missions. Well, I can imagine it to some extent: I have been lucky enough, I have had the pleasure to come into contact with this profession. I have said it before, and I will say it again: especially when it comes to attack aircraft. I simply do not understand how people work there or how they fly.

For those who have never flown, let me explain: only the arms and fingers are moving. How can you, under such conditions, climb, then descend, then climb and descend again, and on top of this, carry out strikes – and even descend to altitudes that are dangerous because of enemy air defence systems? It is simply incredible.

So, what can we say about our soldiers who are now on the front line? In this new system of operating combat drones and other modern weapons, you can hardly lift your head, yet our guys are fighting. They are the true heroes.

Happy holiday to you! Happy Heroes of the Fatherland Day!

Russia-India Business Forum

2025-12-05T20:07:24+04:00

Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi took part in the plenary session of the Russia-India Business Forum.

The forum, co-organised by the Roscongress Foundation and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), took place in New Delhi on December 4–5.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Prime Minister, friends,

I am delighted to welcome the participants of the Russia-India Business Forum plenary session.

These days, New Delhi is hosting representatives from our economic ministries and departments, the heads of our largest companies, banks and regions, as well as members of parliament – that is, all those who are engaged in practical efforts to promote multifaceted Russian-Indian cooperation in imports and exports, finance and investments.

As I understand it, you have discussed a broad range of specific issues related to economic interaction between Russia and India during your numerous panel sessions and expert discussions. But the main achievement is that new business contacts have been established at the forum, talks have begun on future commercial deals, and forward-looking mutually beneficial projects have been launched.

I would like to draw your attention to what I consider to be of utmost importance. This forum was proposed and organised primarily to demonstrate the multifaceted possibilities of our cooperation.

I would like you to know that the Russian delegation has not come here to discuss only energy, place orders or sign oil and gas contracts. We want to develop our multifaceted relations with India in many spheres.

Mr Prime Minister has pointed out many times during our private conversations that India has vast and growing opportunities in many spheres, but they are not being used as both sides would like them to be used. In fact, this is what this forum is about.

To tell the truth, this forum is devoted to the possibilities of the Indian economy and aims to inform our economic operators about these opportunities, so that we can open up our markets to mutual satisfaction and mutual development. All this has fundamental significance because strong and diversified ties between Russian and Indian businesses are among the most powerful pillars of the privileged strategic partnership between our countries.

Russia and India are indeed long-time, close trading partners. Trade continues to grow steadily, with the dynamics hitting record highs of up to 80 percent over the past three years. Last year, the volume of Russian-Indian trade reached US$64 billion.

Clearly, the opportunities for expanding bilateral trade and investment are enormous. Both Russia and India boast large consumer markets and impressive economic, technological, and resource potential.

To reiterate, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India is pursuing an entirely independent sovereign policy and is achieving very good results in the economy. The Indian economy is one of the world’s fastest growing economies. The figures speak for themselves. Over ten years, India’s GDP has almost doubled and has grown by 2.5 times in terms of purchasing power parity.

Sound economic policies and Prime Minister Modi’s signature initiatives such as the Make in India programme, are strengthening India’s technological sovereignty. The Indian manufacturing and light industries, its IT sector, and the pharmaceutical industry are among the world’s leaders. Russia is carefully analysing India’s experience and uses it in implementing our national programmes for import substitution and localisation of production of high value-added products. The governments of both countries, along with the Prime Minister and me, are paying close attention to deepening Russia-India multifaceted economic ties. Following today’s talks, we adopted a Programme for Expanding Russian-Indian Economic Cooperation. This comprehensive document is aimed at achieving the goal that Mr Modi and I set to bring trade to US$100 billion by 2030.

We will need business communities from both countries to do their best to expand and diversify trade and to form a balanced configuration of reciprocal trade.

Trade surplus in Russia’s favour is quite large. Russian businesses and companies are willing to multiply imports of Indian goods and services. Friends, we welcome this, as it helps make our economy more resilient.

Your forum clearly showed that Indian entrepreneurs are genuinely interested in trading with Russia as well. They have much to offer. The synergy is obvious. Therefore, it makes good economic sense to prioritise projects to increase Indian imports to Russia as part of the new export support programme recently adopted by Mr Modi’s government.

For my part, I would like to reassure the business community that all constructive initiatives aimed at expanding mutual economic exchanges will continue to receive full support from Russian ministries and agencies.

The intergovernmental commission undoubtedly plays a key role in fostering an atmosphere of genuine free trade between our countries. It is important that we work together, in close coordination, to remove the remaining customs and administrative barriers that impede the reciprocal flow of goods, services, and capital.

A positive effect in this regard would likely stem from the prompt conclusion of a preferential trade agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union. Free trade cannot exist without a stable system of bilateral settlements and reliable payment and insurance mechanisms. The use of national currencies also provides tangible advantages, ensuring uninterrupted financial transactions regardless of external conditions.

Naturally, the development of transport and logistics infrastructure is of particular importance. Much is already being done: the project to establish the North–South Corridor from Russia and Belarus to the Indian Ocean coast is advancing, as is the modernisation of the Northern Sea Route infrastructure, including its use for delivering Indian goods to global markets.

However, cooperation between our two countries should not and cannot be limited to trade alone. We must extend our efforts to strengthen industrial cooperation, jointly create cutting-edge products, and develop technological alliances, especially in advanced, knowledge-intensive sectors such as digitalisation, autonomous robotics, pharmaceuticals (including the synthesis of effective medicines), and the production of high-tech medical equipment.

We are ready for broad partnership with India in the field of artificial intelligence, where both our countries have their own advanced achievements. Russia is interested in taking part in the AI summit planned for February 2026 in India, as I have just mentioned to the Prime Minister. We will send a representative delegation to this event.

In conclusion, I would like to once again emphasise the continued strengthening of Russian-Indian trade and investment ties and the close cooperation between our business communities. All of this truly contributes to economic growth and development, improving the wellbeing of our citizens, and therefore fully corresponds to the fundamental interests of our countries and our peoples.

I wish the forum participants and organisers every success and all the best.

Thank you for your attention.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (retranslated): Your Excellency, my friend Vladimir Putin,

Heads of businesses from Russia and India, ladies and gentlemen, Namaskar.

I am extremely pleased – and I consider it a highly significant initiative on the part of President Putin – that he has come to India with such a large delegation to participate in this Russia–India Business Forum. I extend a warm welcome to all of you. It is a great pleasure to be here today.

I wish to express my particular gratitude to my friend, President Putin, for his participation in this forum and for sharing his invaluable perspectives with us.

We have established predictable mechanisms for engagement with the business community. Negotiations have commenced on the creation of a free trade zone between India and the Eurasian Economic Union.

As has been noted today, we are collaborating as friends across a wide range of sectors. President Putin has just outlined the emerging opportunities in diverse fields. In a very short time, we can achieve highly ambitious goals, whether in business or in diplomacy. The foundation of any partnership, however, is mutual trust. The greatest strength in Russia–India relations lies precisely in this mutual trust. It is reciprocal, and it provides the impetus for our common endeavours. It inspires us, giving us wings to realise our shared aspirations.

Last year, President Putin and I set the goal of elevating bilateral trade to US$100 billion by 2030. Since yesterday, we have held thorough discussions with President Putin. Based on what I have observed, however, I believe there is no need to wait until 2030 – this objective can be attained much sooner. We are making steadfast progress, and I am confident we can achieve it well ahead of schedule. I am certain of this. Work to reduce both tariff and non-tariff barriers is ongoing.

But the true driving force, friends, resides with business, with corporate leaders, with your innovative spirit, with your energy, and your ambitions. This is what will define our shared future.

Friends, the pace and the scope of transformations in India over the past 11 years are staggering and unprecedented. Guided by the principles of reform, transformation, and personal initiative, India is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy soon. Throughout the 11 years of reforms, we have progressed continuously. Our economy and prosperity are stronger than ever, and we are moving into the future with full confidence and with sufficient resources to achieve our goals.

We have adopted a number of measures, such as compliance reforms, to make doing business easier. New opportunities have opened up for the private sector, which created additional potential in this area.

We are opening new opportunities in the civilian nuclear sector.

What we are doing transcends administrative reforms; we are going through a reform of our way of thinking. Highly developed India is the only goal we have, and we stand united by this goal.

Friends,

You held an undeniably useful and meaningful forum yesterday and today, and you had very productive discussions. I take comfort in knowing that all areas of cooperation between Russia and India were represented at this event.

I am deeply grateful to all of you for your proposals and efforts. I would like to present some of my ideas and considerations designed to expand our cooperation.

The first covers logistics and connectivity. During our today’s talks, President Putin and I focused on ensuring the full potential of connectivity between our countries, whether through the North-South International Transport Corridor, the Northern Sea Route, or the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor. We are committed to advancing along all these tracks. We will achieve progress very soon and will cut transport time and lower prices and shipping costs. It will also open new markets for businesses.

The use of digital technologies can help us simplify customs procedures and regulations and create virtual trade corridors. This will speed up customs processing, reduce paperwork, and make the movement of goods more seamless.

The maritime sector is our second priority. Recently, Russia has expanded the list of dairy product exporters from India, for example, which has expanded the opportunities for exporters engaged in trade with India.

India is rich in seafood and a wide range of processed foods that enjoy high demand around the world. We can create joint ventures and promote technological cooperation to support maritime logistics, deep-sea fishing, and automation of fishing harbours. Doing so will not only help meet demand in Russia but also create a new market for Indian-made products.

The third priority is the automotive sector. India is a global leader in the production of affordable and cost-effective electric vehicles and other modes of transportation. Russia is an important producer of advanced materials. Together, in partnership, we can ensure highly efficient production of electric vehicles, automotive components, and various other mobility technologies.

Achieving this will not only meet our own needs but also contribute to the development of the Global South, particularly the African continent.

The fourth priority is the pharmaceutical industry. India supplies high-quality medicines at affordable prices worldwide. This is precisely why India is often referred to as the “pharmacy of the world.” Together, we can collaborate on the joint development of vaccines and cancer therapies and strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains. This will not only bolster our healthcare systems but also foster the growth of new industries.

The fifth priority is the textile industry. India possesses vast potential in the production of both natural and synthetic fabrics. Globally, we are recognised as leaders due to our advanced designs and manufacturing expertise. Russia is a key producer of polymer and synthetic materials. Together, we can establish a sustainable textile industry supply chain.

There are also further opportunities for cooperation in sectors such as fertilisers, cement production, and electronics.

Friends,

Population mobility plays a crucial role in strengthening cooperation across all sectors. Today, India is emerging as the global capital of skilled human resources.

Our country has the potential to meet global demands across all fields, including technology, engineering, healthcare, construction, and logistics. Given Russia’s demographic and economic priorities, this partnership could prove immensely beneficial for all participating nations. By providing opportunities for Indian citizens to learn the Russian language, we can cultivate a workforce that is proficient in Russian, thereby contributing to the prosperity of both our nations.

Friends,

Today, highly significant decisions have been agreed upon and adopted regarding tourist visas for citizens of both our countries. This will facilitate increased tourism flows between our nations, create new business opportunities, expand prospects for tour operators, and open up new employment opportunities.

Friends,

Together, India and Russia stand side by side in this new journey of joint production and creation. Our role is not limited to enhancing bilateral trade. We aim to ensure the well-being of all humanity, and to achieve this, we need long-term solutions to the existing global challenges. India is prepared to work shoulder to shoulder with Russia on this path.

I would like to say the following to all of you: produce in India, partner with India, and together, we can work for the benefit of the entire world. With these words, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to President Putin and to all of you.

Thank you very much.

Russia Calling! Investment Forum

2025-12-03T16:03:38+04:00

Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session of the Russia Calling! forum.

The 16^th VTB Investment Forum is taking place in Moscow on December 2–3. This year the central theme of the forum is Reaching Higher: Bold Choices for the New Economy.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I would like to bear out what the Minister of Finance has said: we are in favour of competition – I fully agree.

On the whole, regrettably, I will probably have to repeat what has already been said – all the best and most substantive points have already been articulated. Nevertheless, my statement retains its importance, as it confirms the complete consensus that exists in the implementation of our economic policy among the Government, the Presidential Executive Office, and the Central Bank.

The regions of the Russian Federation are not represented here. I can assure you that we work in close contact with the regions, with the business community, and overall, we operate in a sufficiently cohesive and, I believe, effective manner.

First of all, I would like to welcome the participants and guests of the plenary session of the Russia Calling! International Investment Forum. Good afternoon.

As is the good tradition, this event has once again brought together entrepreneurs and investors from dozens of countries for a substantive dialogue on issues pertinent to business and directly influencing the development of trade and investment ties with foreign states.

I am aware that the focus of your attention is on key trends in the global economy and world markets, as well as in Russia’s economy – on the specific tasks we are setting to advance business initiatives in our country, to launch new promising projects, and thereby to expand opportunities for profitable investment across various sectors. I will touch upon these topics briefly in my remarks.

As you know well, the modern world is characterised by high turbulence, largely provoked by the non-competitive practices of certain Western states. Exploiting their monopolistic position in specific markets and in the financial sphere, they impose illegitimate unilateral restrictions, seeking in this way to pressure sovereign states that pursue independent policies. In essence, their aim is to eliminate competitors and to preserve their former privileges in a rapidly changing world – that very slipping monopoly.

In the post-Soviet period, we often stated – and our Western partners at the time were keen to instruct us – that all difficulties should be overcome not through administrative or command methods, but through market mechanisms. Yet the imposition of non-market restrictions is precisely an attempt to preserve those very command methods of managing the global economy. It doesn’t work and it won’t.

Without a doubt, Russia does feel the external pressure, but our country and our economy are successfully tackling these challenges. We will continue to build a sovereign economic policy and to act in the international arena based on our own national interests and needs of the domestic business and our people, to fulfil our obligations to our foreign counterparties, and to advance cooperation with the countries that are interested in interacting with us.

Earlier, I mentioned that countries which act rationally and pragmatically make up the absolute majority. Over the past three years, we have significantly increased our trade with them, primarily our key partners, such as China and India, with which we are bound by many years of friendship and strategic interaction.

There are many representatives of the Chinese and Indian delegations in this audience. I would like to emphasise the fact that we aim to bring cooperation with the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India to a whole new level and to expand its technology dimension. Numerous joint projects in energy, the manufacturing industry, outer space exploration, agriculture, and other areas are aimed at achieving this goal.

We have established a substantive dialogue on economic matters with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. I will also discuss these matters, including expanding Indian imports, in detail with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming visit to India. I am sure this import component of our strategy was addressed during this session as well. Considering trade balance-related issues this primarily concerns India

To reiterate, Russia is open to cooperation with foreign businesses in trade, the real sector, and the stock market. Our country offers great opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors, and stable key macroeconomic indicators ensure the safety of such operations.

We maintain a record-low unemployment rate of 2.2 percent. I think I will repeat what has undoubtedly been mentioned here. It was 2.2 percent in September. This figure is low not only for Russia but for most of the world’s largest economies as well.

The public finances remain stable. We made timely decisions regarding both revenue and expenditure of the federal budget. Key priorities, such as social commitments, defence and national security, as well as the objectives to achieve national development goals, have been financed in full.

The budget for the next three years has been drafted to mitigate the impact of external risks and increase the share of non-oil and gas revenues. It remains in line with the budget rules and stipulates a moderate budget deficit. Look at what is happening in some EU countries. We are planning 1.6, 1.3, and 1.2 percent of GDP for the coming years.

What else should be emphasised? Russia’s public debt, as has already been noted, remains below 20 percent of GDP – one of the lowest levels globally. This means that we continue to pursue a balanced, responsible fiscal policy and, together with consistent monetary policy measures, are achieving a slowdown in price dynamics.

In this regard, I want to stress that the decline in inflation has been one of this year’s major accomplishments. While inflation was estimated at double-digit levels in March, it now stands at below seven percent year on year. By the end of December, it is expected to be around six percent, that is, below the forecasts by both the Government and the Central Bank. I know that experts will now begin recalculating the figures using different parameters, but overall, this is the situation as it stands. And we expect this positive trend to continue.

Meanwhile, economic growth is slowing. Over the first nine months of this year, Russia’s GDP grew by one percent, with 0.6 percent in the third quarter. The full-year forecast places GDP growth in the range of 0.5 to one percent. Overall, this is what we expected. From the outset, when the Bank of Russia raised the key rate and the Government adopted its corresponding decisions, we anticipated a “soft landing.”

However, certain imbalances have emerged. In several industries, output this year not only failed to grow but actually declined. Are we satisfied with these trends? No.

Let me remind you that last December, the Government and the Central Bank were tasked with fundamental objectives. These include ensuring a transition to a balanced growth model, maintaining low unemployment and inflation, and simultaneously initiating structural economic changes, taking into account the policy of making our economy more formal and strengthening the competitive environment. We will discuss these matters in detail next week at the meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects.

First and foremost, we must strive for a more rapid pace of investment growth, increase allocations towards the development of production in the service sector, and launch new projects in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, high technology, tourism, and so forth. Over the past three years, investment has grown at an above-average rate: by 6.7 percent in 2022; 9.8 percent in 2023; and 7.4 percent in 2024. This year, the pace is more modest but remains positive overall.

What is the reason for this? In a number of economic sectors, corporate profits have declined, which is well known, meaning that the companies’ own funds for investment have diminished, whilst the cost of borrowed capital and bank loans – resources that domestic businesses have largely used to finance projects – has objectively risen. These are obvious and understandable factors.

It should be noted that in recent years our financial sector has managed to fundamentally reconfigure its operations – I want to emphasise this point separately – by replacing unreliable external sources of financing with domestic ones. As a result, the external debt of real sector enterprises has almost halved. I will tell you frankly, there was a degree of apprehension initially: would our economy and industry as a whole cope with this transition? They have coped.

Thanks to timely regulatory measures and the accumulated safety margin, the Russian banking sector is now operating confidently and stably. Whereas in 2022 the sector worked with a near-zero financial result, a profit of just 200 billion rubles, in 2023 this figure amounted to 3.2 trillion rubles, and in 2024, to 3.8 trillion roubles. According to the forecast of the Bank of Russia, by the end of 2025, the banking sector will have generated a profit of approximately 3.2 to 3.5 trillion rubles.

I am convinced that it is necessary to enhance the contribution of the banking sector to the development of the national economy, our territories, and residential communities, and to improve the return – the effect for real production – derived from the use of credit resources.

At the same time, it is imperative that bank funds, their profits, and the savings of citizens and companies are channelled towards the realisation of business ideas not only in metropolises and centres of business activity, but across all regions of the Russian Federation. To this end, every constituent entity has already implemented a regional investment standard. Development agencies have also been launched at the regional level. They are engaged in investor support, advising on how to register a land plot, apply for support mechanisms, or resolve infrastructure issues. However, projects, especially large-scale ones, often go beyond the boundaries of any particular region.

Also, in the case of foreign investments, it would be useful to have a federal perspective on where it is most appropriate for foreign partners to implement specific projects and which federal support measures they should use. For such initiatives, I propose establishing a unified investment support ecosystem that would allow entrepreneurs and companies to receive professional advice and assistance throughout the entire project lifecycle, from concept development to full implementation. I propose creating this ecosystem within VEB Corporation, with the participation of the Ministry of Economic Development.

Furthermore, it is essential to strengthen the role of the stock market as a source of investment capital, especially considering the strong interest of both individual and institutional investors in our financial markets.

For example, by mid-year, more than 37 million individual clients were registered on the Moscow Exchange, amounting to nearly half of the country’s economically active population.

Their combined assets exceeded 11 trillion rubles. At the same time, the number of institutional investors receiving brokerage services increased by more than one-third over the year to reach 50,000 with their portfolios exceeding 15 trillion rubles.

Of course, the current economic environment influences the Russian stock market. Its capitalisation has declined slightly and now stands at around 23 percent of GDP.

This year, only three companies have conducted initial public offerings. Among them was DOM.RF Corporation, our leading housing development institution, which entered the stock market. Mr Mutko, I congratulate you on this achievement. I am aware that you and your team conducted extensive work to do this, and it yielded successful results.

Clearly, the Russian stock market has significant room for expansion and new listings. Additional measures are required to increase its capitalisation so that its full potential can be leveraged for the benefit of the entire country. In this regard, I believe I can propose…

First. Investments in bonds and trust units are growing. However, rising debt is not the only instrument for expanding production and launching investment projects. For long-term development, attracting equity capital is essential.

To advance this objective, I ask the Government to develop in the near future a programme for initial and secondary public offerings by companies with public ownership. I also ask the ministries to map out sectoral plans for bringing major issuers to the stock market, providing, of course, specific and effective incentives for businesses that undergo public listing. This includes linking existing support measures to a company’s public status.

To illustrate: a borrower from the Industrial Development Fund, for instance, could become eligible for a reduced loan rate upon conducting an initial public offering, or IPO.

Second. It is necessary to enhance the efficiency and transparency of corporate governance in joint-stock companies so that their shareholders can have confidence in the security of their investments and in receiving a return.

I am aware that the Bank of Russia, together with the Moscow Exchange and with the support of the Ministry of Finance, has launched a shareholder value enhancement programme, drawing on relevant experience from Asian markets.

The programme focuses on the disclosure of key corporate metrics for investors, such as net assets, dividend yield, forward-looking statements, development strategies and so on. Participants in the shareholder value programme will form a pool of companies that will serve as a benchmark for other Russian issuers and as a mark of quality for investors.

I ask the Government to ensure that the largest joint-stock companies with public ownership join this programme by the end of next year, and to align their operational frameworks and management incentive structures with the goal of increasing shareholder value.

Naturally, we must proceed with due care. Ms Nabiullina is nodding her head – she likes it. I like it too. However, under current conditions, we must, of course, assess the actual position of our state-owned companies and fully account for all the challenges they face. Nevertheless, we must advance decisively along this path.

And, finally, third. It is important to further enhance the attractiveness of the capital market, improve investor confidence and provide for cash inflows. An increasing number of our citizens join the long-term savings programme which is an important source of long-term investments. They have already entered into more than eight million such agreements worth almost 560 billion rubles.

A year ago, I issued instructions at our forum to encourage so-called family savings. I can remind you what is all about. If parents open a long-term savings product for their children and invest funds there, then they can get a personal income tax deduction. The tax deduction amount is calculated based on the actual contribution up to 500,000 rubles per parent. So, the maximum amount per family for being eligible to a deduction will make up one million rubles. The relevant amendments have already been made to the legislation.

In addition, employers that co-finance their employees’ savings under the long-term savings programme are entitled to certain benefits. They will become effective starting September 1 next year. So we will see how these novelties can work and how businesses and individuals will evaluate their efficiency. Then, we will either fine-tune these measures or launch additional mechanisms for developing our stock market.

Friends, the feedback and permanent dialogue with the business community and investors is a key condition for improving the business climate and for strengthening investment dynamics as a prerequisite for a robust long-term economic growth. Opinions and proposals from both domestic businesses and our foreign partners, as well as an account of the best foreign practices and the assessment of our own experience, are important for solving the tasks and problems that our business community deems paramount, most important.

It is crucial that the Russia Calling! forum offers an excellent opportunity to hold an open and constructive discussion on all issues. I know that your discussion is very active. I am sure that it is very substantive and useful. I want to thank all of you, especially our foreign friends and colleagues, for being here, for showing interest in working with Russia. I wish you all the best.

Thank you for your attention.