From the Kremlin

Executive Order on measures to ensure technological independence and security of critical information infrastructure

The President signed the Executive Order On Measures to Ensure the Technological Independence and Security of Critical Information Infrastructure in the Russian Federation.

March 30, 2022 17:15

The Executive Order was signed to ensure the technological independence and security of critical information infrastructure in the Russian Federation.

According to the Executive Order, as of March 31, 2022, it is illegal for customers making purchases under Federal Law No. 223-FZ of July 18, 2011, On the Procurement of Goods, Works and Services by Certain Types of Legal Entities, to purchase foreign software for the purpose of using it at significant critical information infrastructure sites in the Russian Federation, or to purchase services that are necessary for such use without approval of said purchases by a federal executive body duly authorised by the Government of the Russian Federation.

In addition, as of January 1, 2025, government bodies and customers cannot use foreign software on their significant critical information infrastructure sites.

The Government of the Russian Federation must, within a month, approve the requirements for software that is to be used by government bodies and customers on their significant critical information infrastructure sites, as well as the rules for coordinating the purchase of foreign software for use on these sites and the purchase of services that are necessary for using this software at such sites.

Also, the Government must, within six months, implement a set of measures aimed at ensuring the preferential use of domestic radio-electronic products and telecom equipment by critical information infrastructure entities at their significant critical information infrastructure sites. In particular, the Government will ensure that amendments to related legislation are carried out accordingly; ensure the creation of a research and production association specialising in the development, production, technical support and service for trusted software and hardware systems for critical information infrastructure; organise staff training and retraining; and create a monitoring and control system in this area.

Telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz.

March 30, 2022 18:10

Vladimir Putin informed the Federal Chancellor about the substance of the decision to switch to Russian rubles in gas transactions, for Germany in particular. The change in transaction currency is being introduced due to the fact that, in violation of international law, the foreign exchange reserves of the Bank of Russia were frozen by the EU member states. It was noted that the decision should not lead to a deterioration of contractual obligations for the European companies importing Russian gas. It was agreed that the experts of the two countries would discuss this issue further.

Vladimir Putin and Olaf Scholz (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/678/events) exchanged views on the latest round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul held the day before. Ensuring the safe evacuation of civilians from combat zones, primarily from Mariupol, was also considered.

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Mario Draghi.

March 30, 2022 18:30

At the request of Mario Draghi (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/665/events), Vladimir Putin informed him of the progress in negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian representatives after the recent round of talks in Istanbul. He also offered some clarification concerning the decision to use rubles in Russian natural gas transactions with a number of countries, including Italy.

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway Jonas Gahr Store.

March 31, 2022 14:25

Vladimir Putin explained in detail the reasons for launching the special military operation to protect Donbass, its goals and objectives. He placed particular emphasis on humanitarian issues, primarily the measures taken to ensure the safety of the civilian population and opening humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from the areas of hostilities, including Mariupol.

The President of Russia also informed Jonas Gahr Store about the talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives. The latest round took place recently in Istanbul.

The parties agreed to maintain contact.

Executive order on special procedure to allow foreign buyers to meet their commitments to Russian natural gas suppliers

Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On the Special Procedure to Allow Foreign Buyers to Meet their Commitments to Russian Natural Gas Suppliers.

March 31, 2022 16:05

This Executive Order supplements measures included in executive orders of the President of the Russian Federation No. 79 of February 28, 2022, On Special Economic Measures in Connection with the Unfriendly Actions by the United States and the Foreign States and International Organisations that Joined Them; No. 81 of March 1, 2022, On Additional Temporary Economic Measures to Ensure the Financial Stability of the Russian Federation; No. 95 of March 5, 2022, On Temporary Procedures for Meeting Obligations to Certain Foreign Creditors; and No. 126 of March 18, 2022, On Additional Temporary Economic Measures to Ensure the Financial Stability of the Russian Federation in currency regulation.

This Executive Order states, in part, that as of April 1, 2022, natural gas transactions executed after April 1, 2022, that include resident companies taking part in foreign economic activities that have exclusive rights to export natural gas shall be made in rubles under the foreign trade contracts with foreign entities if these natural gas supplies are sent to foreign states that commit unfriendly actions as regards the Russian Federation and Russian legal and physical entities. The same procedure applies to contracts for natural gas supplies signed with foreign entities and registered in the above foreign states.

Under the Executive Order, Gazprombank, which is the authorised bank for the purposes of said Executive Order, shall open, based on an application by a foreign buyer, special K type ruble accounts and special K type currency accounts for natural gas transactions.

The Executive Order establishes the rules for opening and using these accounts. Thus, under the Executive Order, a foreign buyer transfers the foreign currency specified in a contract on natural gas supplies to a special K type currency account. Based on the foreign buyer’s instruction, the authorised bank sells the foreign currency transferred by the foreign buyer to this account at a trade session organised by the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX) – RTS and credits the proceeds in rubles to the K type ruble account for the foreign buyer; it then transfers the proceeds, in rubles, to the ruble account opened by the Russian supplier in the authorised bank.

The Government Commission on Monitoring Foreign Investment in the Russian Federation is authorised to issue permits allowing foreign buyers to meet their commitments on natural gas purchases without following the procedures established in this Executive Order.

The Central Bank Board of Directors is authorised to determine the procedures for selling foreign currency, other than that in the current Executive Order, as well as to establish the procedure for K type special ruble accounts and K type special currency accounts.

A number of related instructions were given to the Government of the Russian Federation, the Board of Directors of the Central Bank and the Federal Customs Service.

Telephone conversations with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan

Vladimir Putin had telephone conversations with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

March 31, 2022 16:20

The parties discussed developments around Nagorno-Karabakh, with a focus on addressing practical tasks for maintaining regional security and stability. They reaffirmed the importance of consistently implementing all provisions of the trilateral statements of November 9, 2020 (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64384), January 11, and November 26, 2021.

The leaders agreed to continue their contacts.
 
Meeting on development of air transport and aircraft manufacturing

The President held a videoconference on the development of air transport and aircraft manufacturing.

March 31, 2022 17:35
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

Taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/294/events), Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/307/biography), First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/330/biography), Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/551/events), Presidential Aides Igor Levitin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/151/biography) and Maxim Oreshkin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/495/biography), Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/331/events), Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/504/events), Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/647/events), Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/282/events), Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/67/biography), Head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Alexander Neradko, as well as the heads of United Aircraft Corporation, Aeroflot, State Transport Leasing Company, Siberia Airlines, UTair, Airports of Regions Management Company, the Volga-Dnepr Group, Rostec State Corporation, VEB.RF State Development Corporation, Sberbank and VTB Bank.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.

Today’s agenda focuses on the situation in the aviation industry. We have long wanted to discuss these issues holistically, and today we will talk about it in more detail.

However, I would like to begin with something we discussed last week.

(See also
Executive order on special procedure to allow foreign buyers to meet their commitments to Russian natural gas suppliers (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/68094)
March 31, 2022)

Today I signed an Executive Order establishing the rules for trading Russian natural gas with so-called unfriendly states. We have offered our counterparties from these countries a clear and transparent procedure. To purchase Russian natural gas, they will have to open ruble accounts with Russian banks to be used to pay for gas distribution starting tomorrow, on April 1 of this year.

If no payment is made, we will consider this a default on the part of the purchaser – with all the ensuing consequences. No one sells us anything without payment, and we are not doing charity either. This means the current contracts will be suspended.

I emphasise this again – in a situation where the Western countries’ financial systems are being used as a weapon, when companies from these countries refuse to fulfill their contracts with Russian banks, enterprises, and individuals, when our dollar and euro assets are frozen, it makes no sense to use those countries’ currencies.

In fact, what has been happening? We supplied resources to our European customers – in this case, gas. They received it and paid in euros – which they later had frozen. Thus, we have reasons to believe that some of the gas supplied to Europe was essentially provided free of charge.

Obviously, this cannot continue, especially considering that, should we continue to supply gas under the same process, euro or dollar payments could once again be blocked. This development is quite possible, especially given that some Western politicians have been talking about it publicly. Moreover, EU heads of governments have been suggesting similar approaches. This kind of risk is, of course, unacceptable to us.

If we look at this issue from a general perspective, converting to gas payments in Russian rubles is an important step towards reinforcing our financial and economic sovereignty. It has been our long-term plan to consistently and gradually move in this direction, increasing the share of national currency transactions in foreign trade – that is, in our currency and the currency of our reliable partners.

You may have already heard that many long-time energy suppliers in the world market are also talking about diversifying transaction currencies.
To reiterate, Russia values its business reputation. We fulfill and we will continue to fulfill our obligations under all contracts, including our gas contracts.

We will continue to supply gas as agreed and, I would like to stress, at the rates specified in the effective long-term contracts.

I want to stress that these rates are several times lower than the current rates on the spot market. What does this mean? In simple terms, Russian gas means cheaper energy, heat and power in European homes, affordable fertilisers for European farmers and, consequently, cheaper food. Finally, it means higher competitiveness for European companies and higher wages for European citizens.
However, judging by the statements made by some politicians, they are willing to disregard their citizens’ interests so they can enjoy the good graces of their overseas master and overlord. This is the opposite of populism. People are urged to eat less, put on more clothes, and use less heating, give up on travel – presumably for the benefit of the people who are demanding this kind of voluntary deprivation as a sign of some abstract North Atlantic solidarity.

This is not the first year that we have been observing such questionable approaches and actions in the economic, energy and food policy of the Western countries.
Incidentally, the food crisis will inevitably be followed by another one, another wave of migration, primarily to the European countries.

Regardless of this, the decisions that are being made, one after another, are pushing the global economy towards crisis. They are leading to the disruption of production and logistics chains, an increase in global inflation and the aggravation of inequality, to a decline in the living standards of millions of people, and to the tragedy of mass famine in the poorest countries, as I have just said.
Naturally, the question arises: Who is responsible for this? Who will be held accountable for this?

Obviously, the United States will again try to resolve its problems – just its own problems – at the expense of others. In part, it will trigger a new wave of emission and budget deficits. The deficit has soared enormously and inflation is setting records in both the leading European countries and in the United States. In the process, they are trying to blame us for their own economic mistakes; they are always looking for someone to blame. This is perfectly clear, we are aware of this.

I would add that the United States will also try to make money on the current global instability, as it did during WWI and WWII, and its aggressions against Yugoslavia, Iraq and Syria, to name a few. Global markets are falling while the stock value of the companies from the US military-industrial complex is going up all the time. Money is flowing away to the United States, depriving the other regions of the world of development resources.

Attempts to do everything possible to push Europe towards expensive American liquid natural gas fall into the same category. As a result, the Europeans are not only compelled to dip into their pockets but actually to undermine the competitiveness of European companies with their own hands, to remove them from the global market. For Europe, this means large-scale de-industrialisation and the loss of millions of jobs. Another consequence is a drastic reduction in living standards against the backdrop of price increases on food, petrol, electricity, housing and utilities.

This is the price the ruling Western elite are telling people to pay, as I said, for their ambitions and short sighted actions – both in politics and the economy, including the economic war that they are trying to unleash, or in fact have already unleased against Russia.

This did not start just now, nor in the past month. Illegal sanctions and restrictions have always been imposed on our country, for many years. The goal is to curb Russia’s development, undermine our sovereignty, and weaken our industrial, financial and technological potential.

I will repeat that all these sanctions have been prepared in advance and would have been imposed in any case. I would like to emphasise this point. In effect, these are sanctions against our right to freedom, to be independent, to be Russia.

They are imposed because we do not want to dance to their tune and to sacrifice our national interests and traditional values.

The “collective West” does not seem willing to abandon its policy of economic pressure on Russia. Moreover, it is certainly going to try to find more reasons for sanctions, or rather pretexts. One can hardly count on any change in their approach, at least in the near future.

In this regard, I am asking the Government, the Bank of Russia, and the regional governments, to consider this while planning their systemic efforts to promote economic growth and support specific sectors, to keep in mind that the sanctions are not going anywhere, just like in previous decades. Such is the objective reality.

What I would like to note here, and I want you to bring this to all your colleagues’ attention, when reviewing each specific industry or sector, we need to focus not only on overcoming the challenges of this year, but also work out long-term development plans based on the internal capabilities of our economy, on Russia’s science and education systems. We must primarily rely on private business initiatives and healthy competition, striving to maximise the employment of our industrial facilities, to develop new competencies and generally increase Russia’s international competitiveness.

At the same time, to make sure that the economic policy is effective, we need to look at key indicators like the preservation and creation of jobs, the reduction of poverty and inequality, the improvement of people’s quality of life, and the availability of goods and services. We also focused on these indicators when we were discussing the situation in construction and housing last week.
Today we will continue the series of industry-related meetings. As I have said, the aviation industry is on our agenda today, which plays a crucial role in the development of Russian industry, its high-tech areas. It is certainly of particular importance for transport services, which ensure the connectivity of the regions of our vast country.

(Additional
Executive Order on provisional procedures for fulfilling financial obligations to certain foreign creditors in the transport sector (http://en.kremlin.ru/acts/news/68100)
April 1, 2022)

Allow me to remind you that Russian air carriers and aircraft manufacturers were among the first to feel the consequences of the improper decisions by the Western countries. A month ago, European and American companies unilaterally refused to meet their obligations under their contracts with aviation and service companies from Russia. In fact, they deceived their Russian partners by stopping the supply, leasing, maintenance and insurance of aircraft. In addition, the European countries closed their airspace to our planes.

I will leave aside, for now, the impact of this decision on the foreign companies themselves, including damaged reputations and direct losses. I will merely note that Russian companies have fulfilled their agreements in full and were ready to continue doing so.

However, the Western countries took these steps and we must certainly respond to them. I suggest proceeding from the premise that we will not be maintaining cooperation with our former partners in the near future. We will not close ourselves off from anyone; we will not be a closed country, but we have to proceed from the realities that are taking shape.

We have every opportunity to see that Russian aviation not only overcomes the current difficulties but also receives a new impetus for development.

First, we must support our airlines so they can maintain their sustainable and rhythmic operation, to keep jobs and make air service accessible to the Russian people. As I have said, these are operational, urgent measures.

As for long-term plans, we must obviously adjust the strategy for the development of our aviation industry with reliance on our own resources and due account for the new conditions that bring a host of opportunities for Russian aircraft makers, design bureaus, and suppliers of materials, components and parts.

The share of domestic aircraft should increase drastically during the current decade (and this is, of course, an opportunity for our aircraft equipment manufacturers). Naturally, it is necessary to achieve high quality, reliability and efficiency in the process. This is also important for Russian airlines, including private companies that should also develop as dynamic and profitable businesses. Of course, this matters a lot for passengers – they must be able to buy tickets at affordable prices – something we will talk more about later – while the level of safety, comfort and services must match the highest standards. I am referring now not only to interregional flights but also to the development of small aviation and services to difficult-to-access, remote areas.

I would like to ask you today to speak in detail about solutions that will allow our industry to develop the production of a broad range of domestic aircraft. We are endlessly discussing this issue with you. It is also important to make sure that technical maintenance and aircraft repair meet the highest requirements.

Let us start working. I will give the floor to Mr Savelyev. Go ahead, please.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: A few things I would like to say in conclusion.

As I said at the start of our meeting, it is certainly necessary to support operations of the Russian air companies, but it is of fundamental importance not to do this at the expense of passengers, as our colleagues have just said. I fully share this view. This certainly should be kept in mind. It is necessary to make air tickets widely available to people and on this basis to expand the potential of air transport, rather than force people to incur additional costs.

Let me outline a specific target: this year, the volume of domestic service should grow in comparison to what it was last year, and the passenger traffic, as of the yearend – we have just discussed this and I fully agree with this figure – should reach no less than 100 million people.

Therefore, in addition to the state support measures already in effect, including the reduced-fare tickets for travel to the Russian Far East and other regions, I ask the Government to launch the large-scale programme we have just spoken about, a programme to compensate part of the air fare for domestic flights. I am referring to flights to be performed, as it was also mentioned, between April and October of this year, the most active flying period.

The Minister of Transport has just described the specific parameters of this programme (I am aware of the debates on this matter), but, of course, I suggest that we primarily be guided by this. Nevertheless, the figure that is being mentioned – 65 billion [rubles], or 47 billion, or 113 billion, since there is no unity in the Government as to how to calculate these subsidies – let us, for starters, put the figure at 100 billion. If we have in view even ten percent of the reserves, the resultant figure will be exactly 110 billion. But we should also be mindful of the fact that this money comes in with a delay, as Mr Belousov said, and so we will be able to see, during the next four to six weeks, how this programme is implemented and, if necessary, allocate additional funds as needed. But I suggest that the calculations be based on the methodology proposed by the Ministry of Transport.

The second point: many international and domestic flights for which people have bought tickets have been cancelled (we have just spoken about this). Yesterday and today, we discussed these matters with the colleagues. It is certainly necessary to reimburse these expenses. But if in previous periods, we issued certain certificates, today it is more difficult to implement this programme because many routes are closed and we will limit people’s opportunities to use these certificates. Therefore, it is necessary to hand out the money – I accept this and I ask the Government to launch this mechanism shortly.

Third, so far, we have temporarily restricted flights to certain airports in central and southern Russia.
In this connection, I suggest reimbursing regional airports for their expenses throughout their forced downtime. This will make it possible to retain their personnel, and the airports will be able to resume normal operations as quickly as possible. We must also allocate funds for these purposes in full volume. As far as I understand, our colleagues did not voice disagreement on this matter.
Fourth, lease and letter of credit payments remain a substantial financial burden for the air companies. Naturally, we have to reduce this burden. Speaking of letters of credit, I support the concept proposed by the Government and coordinated with the Bank of Russia. As for the lease payments, let me remind you that a substantial share of them was supposed to be made to companies from the so-called unfriendly countries, and they have violated their contractual obligations. In this connection, I ask the Government to draft a package of measures for resolving the issue of lease payments, naturally, taking into account the national residential status of any specific leasing company.

Fifth, new air traffic trends considered, I ask the Government to approve, by June 1, 2022, a comprehensive programme for developing the air transport sector until 2030. It is important that the programme assess future freight and passenger traffic volumes, and that it specify the routes network. It is necessary to determine the number of the required aircraft and their types, as well as measures to expand maintenance and repairs, including components, tyres, etc., using this data. I would like to note that it is necessary to formalise the Russian industry’s obligations regarding the delivery of aircraft and components to Russian airlines and delivery deadlines.
It was for this reason that I asked a representative of our largest aircraft building company about it. This should be done in the near future, as soon as possible, rather than sometime in the foreseeable future.

And, of course, this programme should prioritise air traffic safety. We must stipulate an exhaustive list of measures for this purpose.

I would like to repeat that it is necessary to draft a comprehensive programme for transforming the air transport sector, together with the allocated budgetary funds, by June 2022. I ask our colleagues to strictly adhere to this deadline.

I would like to thank those who prepared today’s meeting. I ask you to heed our agreements and matters that transcended the framework of our current discussion in your work. If necessary, you should formulate these aspects in the form of separate instructions.
Now something that is not directly linked with aviation industry or not linked at all – shipping services. I would like to ask the Minister of Transport to evaluate the situation with the use of Sovcomflot vessels by Russian consignors. They have their own freight and chartering problems. Sovcomflot also has trouble using these vessels. It is necessary to combine the capabilities and requirements of Russian consignors and carriers. I ask you to analyse this matter and to submit your proposals.

Thank you very much, and I wish you all the best.

Telephone conversation with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko had a telephone conversation ahead of the Day of Unity between the Peoples of Russia and Belarus, marked on April 2.

April 1, 2022 14:15

The two leaders exchanged their best wishes on this occasion and discussed a number of current matters on the bilateral agenda and promoting integration within the Union State.
Vladimir Putin also updated his counterpart on the special military operation to protect Donbass and assessed the continuing talks between the Russian and Ukrainian representatives. Alexander Lukashenko (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/119/events) expressed his support for the actions of the Russian Federation.

The two leaders agreed on further contacts.

Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council

The President held a briefing session with permanent members of the Security Council, via videoconference.

April 1, 2022 15:30
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/294/events), Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/215/events), State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/213/biography), Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/37/biography), Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/307/biography), Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/148/events), Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/310/events), Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/90/events), Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/100/events), Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/1/biography), and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/81/biography).

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.
Today’s agenda includes a discussion of additional measures to prevent and neutralise national security threats. Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev will report on this item. Let us hear his report.
Mr Kolokoltsev, you have the floor.

<…>

See also

News of the Security Council (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/security-council)
 
Telephone conversation with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

April 1, 2022 17:45

The President of Russia thanked Turkey for its assistance in hosting another round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives on March 29 in Istanbul and shared his principled assessments of the ongoing negotiating process.

While discussing humanitarian matters in the context of the ongoing special military operation to protect Donbass, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/122/events) expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Russian Defence Ministry to evacuate Turkish nationals and cargo ships from the active combat zone.

The discussion also touched on the topic of developing bilateral cooperation.

It was agreed to maintain contact.

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

April 1, 2022 19:05

The leaders continued their exchange of views on maintaining stability in Nagorno-Karabakh and confirmed the need for strict observance of the tripartite agreements between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia of November 9 (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64384), 2020, and January 11 and November 26, 2021.

Greetings on Russia and Belarus Unity Day

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on the Day of Unity between the Peoples of Russia and Belarus.

April 2, 2022 09:00

“Our countries have done a great deal to promote integration cooperation and constructive bilateral interaction in recent times. A number of important documents have been adopted, including Union sectoral programmes, an updated Military Doctrine and the Migration Policy Concept of the Union State,” the President of Russia noted in his message.

Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that the implementation of the agreements will create conditions for boosting Russia’s and Belarus’ positions in the international arena and for further progress along the path of establishing a common socioeconomic and cultural space. “This obviously meets the cardinal interests of our brotherly peoples and truly matters in view of the strained international situation,” the President of Russia stressed.

Greetings to participants of a gala meeting marking Russia and Belarus Unity Day

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to participants of a gala meeting marking the Day of Unity between the Peoples of Russia and Belarus.

April 2, 2022 12:30

The message reads, in part:

“Moscow and Minsk have been facing unparalleled external pressure recently. I firmly believe that all-around strengthening of the allied Russian-Belarusian ties, stepping up mutually advantageous integration processes and bilateral cooperation across the board will be the best response to unfriendly actions by certain nations.

Of special significance is the coordination of efforts in the international arena, enhancing our defence capabilities as well as pursuing an agreed policy of import substitution in industry, agriculture and other sectors of the economy. Apparently, the priority in doing so is to ensure the well-being and safety for the citizens of Russia and Belarus.

Indicatively, the award ceremony for the Union State prizes in science and technology was timed to coincide with today’s holiday. I would like to heartily congratulate its winners – scientists and engineers of our countries who are jointly developing and implementing crucial programmes and projects.

I have no doubt that together we will be able to overcome any challenges and obstacles.”

Telephone conversation with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

April 2, 2022 14:05

The presidents discussed current issues on the bilateral agenda with a focus on practical aspects of developing mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation. They considered the prospects for deeper interaction within integration associations in the Eurasian space. The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening Russia-Kazakhstan relations of allied and strategic partnership.

Vladimir Putin informed his counterpart on the progress of the special military operation to protect Donbass as well as on the negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

It was agreed to maintain contact at different levels.
 
Greetings to Prime Minister of Armenia on 30th anniversary of Russia-Armenia diplomatic relations

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia.

April 3, 2022 09:00

The message reads, in part:

“Over the past decades, we have brought our inter-state interaction to the level of an alliance while drawing upon the good traditions of friendship and mutual respect which bind our peoples.

Russia and Armenia maintain a substantive political dialogue, develop fruitful cooperation in trade, the economy, science and technology, culture, and many other areas. Moscow and Yerevan coordinate their efforts within the CSTO, EAEU, CIS and other international structures. The steady implementation of the trilateral agreements concluded in 2020 and 2021 helps to strengthen security and stability in the South Caucasus.

I strongly believe that we will further step up the entire range of the Russia-Armenia ties through our joint efforts for the benefit of our countries’ citizens.”

Greetings to President of Armenia on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Armenia

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan on the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia.

April 3, 2022 09:00

The message reads, in part:
“In the past decades, Russia and Armenia have attained considerable experience of fruitful cooperation in all areas. Coordination of efforts within the CSTO, EAEU and the CIS yields good results as does interaction to ensure peace, security and stability in the South Caucasus.

I am confident that further fostering the Russian-Armenian friendly allied ties meets the interests of our brotherly peoples.”

Greetings on Geologists’ Day

Vladimir Putin congratulated Russian geologists and the sector’s veterans on their professional holiday, Geologists’ Day.

April 3, 2022 11:00

The message reads, in part:

“Today, we are paying tribute to true professionals, to committed and spirited people who have devoted their lives to developing Russia’s mineral resources and value above all such qualities as unwavering commitment to the cause, perseverance, and comradely mutual assistance. You are justly proud of belonging to a strong, close-knit team of trail-blazers and have deep respect for the veterans’ wonderful traditions and, of course, for the huge contribution, which geology is making to economic development, the build-up of this country’s industrial and energy potential, and to solving large-scale social problems.

I am certain that geologists will continue to work selflessly and to confidently ensure Russia’s high status as one of the world leaders in mineral production for the benefit of our Fatherland and its people.”

Greetings to President of Azerbaijan on 30th anniversary of Russia-Azerbaijan diplomatic relations

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan.

April 4, 2022 09:00

The message reads, in part:

“Much has been achieved in the past decades to promote Russia-Azerbaijan ties which rest on the good traditions of friendship and mutual respect. The constructive political dialogue and fruitful cooperation in trade, the economy, science and technology, culture and other areas are expanding. We are working together on strengthening stability and security in the South Caucasus region on the basis of trilateral agreements concluded last year and in 2020.

The current year was marked by a crucial achievement – the signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction between Russia and Azerbaijan. I am sure that projecting the bilateral relations to a higher level meets the key interests of our peoples.”

Congratulations to Viktor Orban on party coalition’s victory in elections to National Assembly of Hungary

April 4, 2022 12:15

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/424/events) on the occasion of the victory of the party coalition he headed in the elections to the National Assembly of Hungary.

The President of Russia expressed certainty that, despite the difficult international situation, the further development of bilateral partner ties was fully in accord with the interests of the peoples of Russia and Hungary.

Congratulations to Aleksandar Vucic on his re-election as President of Serbia

April 4, 2022 13:40

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to Aleksandar Vucic (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/511/events) on his convincing victory in the presidential election in the Republic of Serbia.

The President of Russia noted that the voting returns have fully confirmed the Serbian citizens' broad support for Aleksandar Vucic's policy line, which is aimed at resolving urgent social and economic problems and pursuing an independent foreign policy.

“I expect that your activity as head of state will continue to contribute to a stronger strategic partnership between our countries. This undoubtedly meets the interests of the fraternal peoples of Russia and Serbia,” Vladimir Putin emphasised in his message.

Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov

Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov reported to the President on the current situation in Russia’s defence industry, as well as on the performance of other major segments of Russian industry and measures to support them amid the sanctions.

April 4, 2022 14:10
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Government has put a lot of effort into ensuring the sustainability of the nation’s defence industry. Advance payments for the procurement of electronic components have been increased to 100 percent; and contracts for the state defence order (SDO) can now be concluded with a single supplier at estimated prices not exceeding the SDO, without the need to register them with the Federal Antimonopoly Service.

Despite the unprecedented sanctions that led to a reduction in the supply of materials and increasing costs, fulfilling the state defence order continues to be an absolute priority for the Russian defence industry, Yury Borisov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/551/events) added. Last year, at least 98 percent of its requirements were met, and this year, the progress towards some of the target indicators is already ahead of schedule.

The Deputy Prime Minister also informed the President that the initial data for the next State Armaments Programme (SAP) has been prepared, while the programme itself will be drawn up by mid-2023 and will be submitted to the President for approval. The new SAP will focus on creating qualitatively new types of weapons, including non-conventional ones, such as directed-energy weapons, kinetic weapons, and artificial intelligence-enabled control systems and robotic systems.

Yury Borisov added that the Government is now systematically working to accelerate the pace and volume of import substitution with appropriate support for crucial industries.
 
News from the Kremlin:

Meeting on developing agriculture and fisheries

The President held a meeting, via videoconference, on developing the agricultural and fisheries industries, as well as related industrial sectors.

April 5, 2022
17:35
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

Taqking part in the meeting were Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko, Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, Altai Territory Governor, Head of the State Council Commission on Agriculture Viktor Tomenko, and Moscow Mayor, First Deputy Chair of the Government Commission on Improving the Resilience of the Russian Economy under Sanctions Sergei Sobyanin.

Also among the participants were senior executives from the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision, the Federal Agency for Fishery, Sberbank, VTB, the Russian Agricultural Bank, United Shipbuilding Corporation, Rosagroleasing, the National Dairy Producers’ Union, the Sugar Producers’ Union of Russia, the Russian Association of Fertilizer Producers, the Centre for Research in Perspective Technologies, the Russian Association of Specialised Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers, the National Association of Fisheries Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters, the Grain Exporters’ Union, the National Poultry Union, the Russian Union of Oils and Fats, the Russian Union of Chemical Crop Protection Agents, the National Union of Fruit and Vegetable Producers, and the National Meat Association.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.

I see that all the participants are here.

Today, we continue the series of meetings on key sectors of the economy to discuss measures designed to ensure the steady operation of our businesses and reliable domestic supplies both in the current situation and in the long term.

At the top of the agenda today is food production and the processing industry. We will consider all the factors, including the area of cultivated land, land reclamation, and the availability of fertilisers, seeds, agricultural machinery and equipment for the food industry. In a word, we will discuss everything that influences the quantity and quality of goods on the shelves of Russian shops, and consequently, to a certain extent, the price of foods.

As you know, the situation on the global food market has become noticeably more challenging over the past two years. I meant it when I said two years. The mistakes the developed countries have made in their economic, energy and food policies have led to a sharp rise in food prices around the world even two years ago.

The situation has, if anything, worsened in recent weeks. With the minimal food supplies available in the world, new sanctions are being introduced; companies’ operation and the logistics of supplying fertilisers from Russia and Belarus are blocked; and their own fertiliser production in the West is shrinking due to high natural gas prices, which is also the result of their actions – our Western partners’ actions.

Again, the situation on the energy market is deteriorating as a result of non-market, crude measures, including administrative pressure on our Gazprom in some European countries. We are witnessing yet another attempt by our partners to shift the blame for their own blunders in the economic and energy sectors onto Russia, and to resolve the ensuing problems again at our expense. Moreover, we are already hearing statements from officials about the possible nationalisation of some of our assets. Well, that can take us all any length. Please remember that this is a double-edged weapon.

Back to the discussion at hand, I would say that in this situation, a shortage of fertilisers on the global market is inevitable. Not all countries will be able to purchase the amount of fertilisers they need for the current season, which means that crop yields will also decrease.

At the same time, it is important to note that developed economies will try to redirect food flows to their advantage using the mechanism of money emission. But this will inevitably exacerbate food shortages in the poorest regions of the world, will spur new waves of migration, and generally will drive global food prices even higher.

I repeat, this scenario is more than realistic, and we in Russia need to be prepared for it. This means being able to minimise the negative external effects on our citizens, to increase the manufacturing and supply of high-quality and affordable food on the domestic market, including fish products. This is a key objective for this year. At the same time, it is strategically important to reduce the Russian agriculture and fishing industry’s dependence on imports, including the entire chain from the field to the counter.

I would like to highlight such items as seeds and pedigree stock, vitamins, feed supplements and plant protection agents. Here, we need to clearly determine our import substitution benchmarks and pursue them assertively starting now. Considering the potential of the Russian agricultural industry, our science and industrial production, we have all the resources to succeed.

Let me remind you that after the sanctions were imposed against Russia in 2014, our producers used that window of opportunity in the agricultural sector to enter available niches in the domestic market and gain a powerful impetus for streamlined and advanced development – naturally, with support from the state and the Government.

Over the past seven years, Russia’s agricultural production has grown by 15 percent and food – by more than 25 percent. Our market is fully self-sufficient when it comes to major food categories and domestic production. For some products such as sunflower oil and grain, Russian companies have more than enough capacity to satisfy demand, creating very good export potential.

As of 2020, our country became a net exporter of agricultural products – that is, we sell more food and agricultural products abroad than we buy. It seemed almost impossible and incredible even 20 years ago. Today our exports go to about 160 countries.

I want to stress that these results were also achievable during the pandemic despite the supply chains disruptions in the world. However, our farmers met this challenge with flying colours and even elevated their status.

It goes without saying that this year, in view of the global food shortage, we will have to be more careful about food exports. We will have to closely monitor our exports to the countries that adhere to a hostile policy towards Russia.

I would like to specifically note that, thanks to the expanded scope of production, we can ensure that food prices in Russia remain lower than on the global market. Food self-sufficiency is Russia’s competitive advantage, and our citizens should feel its benefits. We must protect them from market fluctuations and price hikes on the global market. I want to stress this specifically for the Government: this work must be continuous, with a clear and visible outcome for people and businesses.

In the same context, I want to remind you that we have a floating export duty rate on grain and sunflower oil. The fertiliser market is regulated to ensure the stable operation of agricultural producers. We took those decisions pre-emptively and it was the right thing to do.

It is necessary to monitor the industry’s supply of fuel and lubricants, seeds, and breeding stock. Naturally, companies should have an opportunity to receive the loans they need to perform their current tasks. In addition, under external restrictions, it is crucial for modern equipment and spare parts to be available. I would like to ask my colleagues from the Government to report today on how these problems are being resolved. I would also like representatives of the industry who are taking part in our meeting today to assess whether the measures taken are sufficient.

I would like to emphasise again that the key task for the Government, regional governors and company directors is to preserve, support business activity in Russian agriculture. We should enable our agrarians, fisheries, and food producers in general to open up new companies, create new jobs and increase the production of groups of goods that we still have to buy in part abroad. Naturally, we do not grow bananas, and this is a separate item of our imports.

I believe we should set ourselves a quite realistic, well-grounded objective: in the next few years, our agriculture, food production and supporting industrial branches should reach much higher growth rates. As you say yourselves, and I am bound to agree with you, they should exceed three percent a year.

To achieve this, we will have to increase several times over the scale of reclamation, introduce new agricultural lands and intensify their use via nutrient application, large-scale mechanisation and modern IT. It so happens that IT is very much in demand in agriculture. Of course, it is necessary to make loans more affordable for upgrading production and the fishery fleet. We have been long dealing with it – quotas for vessels and so on – I will not go into detail now. Let us return to this next time. Today, I hope to hear specific initiatives on this issue.

I would like to add that our absolute priority is the comprehensive development of agricultural lands and the construction of roads and other infrastructure, social facilities and modern housing. It is very important to let people who work in rural areas and feed the country to live in comfortable, modern conditions. I would like you to consider these priorities in today’s discussion of the Government’s proposals.

I have already reviewed with several colleagues this morning what we will focus on in today’s discussion. Let us get down to business. I am giving the floor to Mr Patrushev. Go ahead, please.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Summing it up, I would like to point out that, given the imbalanced global food market and the unprecedented pressure on the Russian economy and our domestic companies, it is critically important to minimise the external negative effects for our people. This is our top priority. As a result of their own policies – I mentioned this in my opening remarks – a number of countries, including those in Europe, have already seen price hikes and food shortages, and the same is happening in the United States. There are other countries, this is already happening there.

Our so-called partners will try to export these problems to Russia. We have all we need to prevent this from happening. On the contrary, we will increase the availability of food for our customers by increasing the capacity of Russian enterprises and improving food supplies to the domestic market and grocery stores.

In addition to monitoring the situation at all times, it is necessary to use the entire arsenal of means and tools offered through state support for the agro-industrial complex (we covered various aspects of this), including the customs and tariff policy mechanisms, temporary restrictions on exports, and low import duties on certain foods. I agree with these proposals. Please document these proposals. Also, the low-cost loans that we talked about on several occasions today and reimbursing food processing costs.

What specific decisions do I consider necessary to formulate or support, since the proposals have already been made?

First, it is imperative to ensure stable operation of agricultural businesses this year. In this regard, I support the Government’s proposal to allocate at least an additional 153 billion rubles from the federal budget (please think about how to make this work and report back to me, I am ready to support it) and, of course, direct these funds primarily to soft short-term and investment loans for the industry.

Second, our systemic goal is to ensure a reliable supply of fertiliser to our agricultural producers. Here, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the entire Government need to follow the situation very closely. Our farmers’ needs should be the top priority. Nevertheless, I propose leaving the current contract-based arrangements in place. As far as I remember, they have three components: the regions, producers, and agricultural producers. We will not be switching to export licensing yet. Please keep this in mind. This does not mean that we have decided on it once and for all. No. We will give it more thought, but we will not be changing anything yet.

Third. As I have said, it is important to reduce imports in the production of Russian agricultural produce. Seed production is one of the main areas here, as well as the development and introduction of Russian breeding solutions, including in cattle and poultry farming. This year, we will allocate at least an additional five billion rubles to support seed-growing and breeding centres.

Fourth, it is necessary to significantly step up our own, Russian manufacture of agricultural machinery, food equipment and components, as well as fishing vessels. We have hardly spoken about this today, but it is a very important area. Moreover, this should be done without delay, at a fast, dynamic pace. We will discuss approaches to addressing this issue in the near future. I would like to ask the Government to systematise all proposals and provide the necessary funding for the relevant programmes.

And the last thing. In 2020, the Agricultural and Fishing Development Strategy was adopted. It is clear that today enterprises in these sectors have faced new challenges that will stay with us for a long time. In this regard, I suggest reviewing the current Strategy, adjusting its targets and deadlines, and providing for a comprehensive set of state support measures and the necessary amount of budgetary funds, including for land reclamation and agricultural use, as well as for establishing new areas for exports of finished products.

Development of the agriculture and food industry as modern, dynamic spheres of our economy with an annual growth rate faster than that of the overall economic growth must be the key objective of the adopted Strategy. I would like to ask the Government and the State Council to adjust the Strategy by July 1, 2022.

And once again about fertilisers. I would like to say this once again: let us not make any changes today and agree with the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture in general, but I suggest discussing this issue once again soon. Let me repeat, I would like to stress it: we do not want to harm anyone. Not ever. We should carefully deal with all this: logistics, insurers, everyone. There is a deficit today. It will be Bought up. It will be. Nobody wants to die of hunger. We must carefully look at all these problems and solve them, primarily based on our own interests.

Thank you very much. All the best.
 
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Yay! I got through to the Kremlin... barely:

State Council Commission meeting on Economy and Finance


Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin and Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Alexei Teksler chaired a meeting of the State Council Commission on The Economy and Finance via video linkup.

April 5, 2022
13:30

Attendees included high-ranking officials from several legal entities of the Russian Federation, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Budget and Financial Markets Anatoly Artamonov, First Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Energy Valery Seleznyov, First Deputy Finance Minister Leonid Gornin, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Sergei Galkin, members of the Auditing Chamber and the Bank of Russia, as well as members of the interested federal and regional executive authorities, civic organisations, development institutions, and the banking and business communities.

Opening the discussion, Igor Levitin Aide to the President said it was necessary to develop uninterrupted and effective cooperation between the regions and the Governmental Commission on Increasing Russia’s Economic Sustainability under the Sanctions, in keeping with the Presidential Executive Order on Measures to Ensure Socioeconomic Sustainability and Protect the Population of the Russian Federation.

Sergei Galkin and Leonid Gornin briefed the attendees on the measures to support the Russian regions that are faced with external sanctions pressures.

Alexei Teksler Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region, Chair of the Commission and Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region, reported on the proposals for ensuring financial sustainability and the self-sufficiency of the consolidated budgets of the legal entities of the Russian Federation, which were submitted by the regions. The meeting participants discussed the initiatives and analysed their relevance, considering the anti-sanctions measures that are being introduced and the additional support measures for the regional budgets.

They also discussed the proposals for carrying out a national project, Labour Productivity, prepared by the relevant sub-commission led by Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko Governor of Leningrad Region.

The initiatives approved at the meeting will be forwarded to the State Council working group for economic issues and measures to control the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) for further consideration jointly with the Governmental Commission on Increasing Russia’s Economic Sustainability under the Sanctions.

Telephone conversation with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic


Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic.

April 6, 2022
13:25

Vladimir Putin congratulated the Serbian leader on his convincing victory in the presidential election on April 3, as well as on the success of the Serbian Progressive Party led by him in the snap parliamentary elections.

The presidents reaffirmed their shared intention to further develop the Russian-Serbian strategic partnership and expand trade and economic ties, including in energy.

They also exchanged views on current regional issues, including developments in Kosovo. At the request of Aleksandar Vucic, Vladimir Putin provided an update on the talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

The leaders agreed to continue personal contacts.

Meeting with Head of the Republic of Daghestan Sergei Melikov


Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Head of the Republic of Dagestan Sergei Melikov to discuss the socioeconomic situation in the region.

April 6, 2022
13:50

The Kremlin, Moscow

Sergei Melikov said the situation in the Republic remained stable, and he started his report by assessing developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Daghestan has a positive vaccination rate, and over 90 percent of people in various districts, including high-mountain areas, have already been vaccinated. Information support and public outreach, primarily among senior citizens, are playing an important role. The Head of the Republic noted the role of the Muftiyat. Since the pandemic began, the muftis have worked hard to contain the disease, and they continue to help the authorities in this respect. The President noted that it is necessary to thank the muftis.

Vladimir Putin noted that last year the Republic had posted 16-plus percent industrial growth or much more than the national average (3.1 percent). He inquired how Daghestan had accomplished this.

Sergei Melikov noted that high indicators were not all that mattered. This is the result of tremendous work to rid many enterprises, including industrial enterprises, from the shadow economy’s influence.

Regarding agriculture, Daghestan’s agro-industrial sector has always boasted impressive potential, and the authorities are doing everything possible to restore this potential, the regional head said. This includes issues related to viticulture and the wine-making sector, which receives support through recently approved regulatory acts. Daghestani wine-makers are not the only ones to obtain support; current grape production levels make it possible to supply grapes to Crimea, as well as the Stavropol and Krasnodar territories.

Vladimir Putin noted that Daghestan was the southernmost republic, and that this explained its traditionally well-developed viticulture sector and substantial production volumes. According to Mr Melikov, it is possible to harvest more grapes, including table varieties, and to attain Soviet-era grape reproduction levels.

To be continued.

Condolences on the death of Vladimir Zhirinovsky


Vladimir Putin offered his deepest condolences on the death of Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

April 6, 2022
14:00

“Vladimir Zhirinovsky was an accomplished politician, an energetic and open man, an eloquent speaker and an articulate debater. The founder and long-time leader of one of the oldest political parties in this country, he has done much to encourage the emergence and development of Russian parliamentarianism and Russian legislation, and he sincerely sought to make a contribution to attaining the most important national goals. And he always defended his patriotic position and Russia’s interests before any audience and in the fiercest of debates,” the message reads.
 
Wow! The Kremlin site fired up, no problems at all! Might be a good time if you want to send a letter.

From the Kremlin:

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban


Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban.

April 6, 2022
16:40

The leaders discussed a number of topical aspects of Russian-Hungarian relations, which continue to develop in a mutually beneficial manner.

Vladimir Putin informed Viktor Orban about the current status of talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives, and also gave principled assessments of the Kiev regime’s gross and cynical provocation in the town of Bucha.

Both leaders agreed to continue their contacts.

Congratulations on 80th anniversary of Vvedenskaya City Clinical Hospital


Vladimir Putin congratulated the current and former staff of the Vvedenskaya City Clinical Hospital in St Petersburg on its 80th anniversary.

April 7, 2022
11:30

The message reads, in part:

“Established in the spring of 1942, your legendary hospital is rightfully considered one of the leading medical facilities in St Petersburg and the entire country. The heroic deeds of the doctors and all staff at the Vvedenskaya Hospital who performed their professional and humanitarian duty in the harshest environment and with honour will forever remain part of the history of besieged Leningrad and in people’s memory. They spared no effort providing medical care to the Leningrad residents and defenders, giving them hope, sincere attention and care.

It is important that the current staff treats the traditions of their predecessors with great respect and is ready to go the extra mile. You pay a great deal of attention to the improvement of diagnostics and treatment methods and equipment which your hospital is rightfully famous for, to the development and introduction of advanced methods and technologies, and you do a great deal for the training of young specialists.”

121st bomber aviation regiment awarded the rank of “Guards”


Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Conferring the honorary name on the 121st Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment.

April 7, 2022
16:00

The President resolved to confer the honorary name “Guards” on the 121st Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment for mass heroism and courage, fortitude and bravery shown by the regiment’s personnel during combat operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts. It will now be referred to as the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment.

Congratulations to the command and personnel of the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment


Vladimir Putin congratulated the command and personnel of the 121st Guards Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment on receiving the honourable name Guards.

April 7, 2022
16:00

The message reads, in part:

“This is a high honour and recognition of your meritorious service, heroism and courage displayed in defending the Fatherland and upholding the sovereignty and national interests of our country.

You can be rightly proud of the regiment’s history and legendary traditions. The personnel in your military unit have invariably displayed fortitude and courage, resolve and strength of spirit, demonstrating great examples of fulfilling your martial duty in the most difficult areas like the struggle against terrorism in Syria and during the special military operation in Ukraine.

I know that you – Guards soldiers and officers – will continue to be faithful to the Oath, and will selflessly and honourably serve tour Motherland, reliably protecting the security and peaceful life of Russian citizens.”

Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council


The President held a briefing session, via videoconference, with permanent members of the Security Council.

April 7, 2022
16:55

The meeting participants discussed the progress of the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine, as well as the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, emphasising the need to strongly counteract any information attacks or other sabotage by the Ukrainian side, such as the recent provocation in Bucha.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Ministry Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.

Accreditation is now open for journalists to cover the events celebrating the 77th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945


The Presidential Press and Information Office’s Department of Accreditation is now accepting accreditation requests to cover the events celebrating the 77th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.

April 8, 2022
09:00

Journalists can only be accredited at www.kremlin.ru (президент.рф).

To receive an accreditation badge, an applicant must fill out a registration form.

Deadline for submitting accreditation requests is 12 pm Moscow time on April 12, 2022.

* * *


Accreditation will cover the following events:

May 7. Red Square
Dress rehearsal of military parade commemorating the 77th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

May 9. Red Square
Military parade commemorating the 77th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

May 9. Alexander Garden
Wreath- and flower-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin Wall.

* * *

The list of accredited journalists as well as information about time and place of meeting for media representatives will be published at www.kremlin.ru (президент.рф).

Contact telephone numbers: +7 495 606 4027, +7 495 606 5397.

Congratulations to President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov


Vladimir Putin congratulated President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Turkmenistan.

April 8, 2022
09:00

The message reads, in part:

“Based on the good traditions of friendship and mutual respect that bring the peoples of our two countries together, we have managed, over the past decades, to bring our interstate cooperation to the level of strategic partnership. Bilateral cooperation is dynamically developing in the political, trade, economic, energy, humanitarian and many other areas.

I believe our concerted efforts will help us ensure further progress in promoting partner relations between Russia and Turkmenistan in all areas. This fully meets the interests of the two friendly peoples and contributes to enhancing security and stability in the Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region.”

Congratulations to President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon


Vladimir Putin congratulated President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Tajikistan

April 8, 2022
09:00

The message reads, in part:

“Over the previous decades, we have managed to reach the level of strategic partnership and allied relations between Russia and Tajikistan. A substantive political dialogue and effective cooperation in trade, the economy, science and technology and humanitarian area are being promoted. Moscow and Dushanbe constructively cooperate in heading off threats and challenges to regional security and coordinate their efforts in the CSTO, CIS, SCO, the UN and other multilateral formats.

I believe further progress in fostering relations between Russia and Tajikistan in their entirety meets the basic interests of the friendly peoples of our two counties and is beneficial to strengthening peace and stability in Central Asia.”

Paying last respects to Vladimir Zhirinovsky


April 8, 2022
10:55

Moscow

Vladimir Putin arrived at the House of the Unions’ Hall of Columns, where Vladimir Zhirinovsky lay in state. The President paid his last respects to the leader of the LDPR party, laying flowers to his coffin.

Earlier in the morning, the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow hosted a funeral service for Vladimir Zhirinovsky performed by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky passed away on April 6 after a long illness, at the age of 75. He will be buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery.

Greetings on opening of Memory Watch national campaign


Vladimir Putin sent greetings to participants in the opening of the 2022 Memory Watch national campaign.

April 8, 2022
11:00

The message reads, in part:

“Representatives of the Russian Search Movement have gathered in Veliky Novgorod today. This powerful and widely respected public organisation brings together tens of thousands of proactive and caring people who sincerely love their country and understand their personal responsibility for preserving the memory of the glorious chapters in the history of our Fatherland and its heroes. For many years, you have been doing an exceptionally important and noble deed by participating in search expeditions, maintaining war graves, proactively helping veterans and their families, meticulously working through the archives to identify the fallen defenders of the Fatherland and to tell their descendants about the heroism of their fathers and grandfathers.

I would like to stress that this multi-dimensional and extremely relevant work always finds support and a positive response in people’s hearts. This includes young people, more and more of whom join the ranks of the Russian Search Movement every year, adopting the timeless moral, spiritual and patriotic values bequeathed by the generation of victors.”

Telephone conversation with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon


Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon.

April 8, 2022
13:05

The heads of state exchanged greetings on a landmark event, the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

They exchanged views on the issues on the bilateral agenda, reaffirming their resolve to strengthen strategic partnership and alliance between Russia and Tajikistan. In that context, they pointed out the importance of consistently implementing the agreements reached during a visit by President of Tajikistan to Russia in December 2021 and of close coordination of their actions within the framework of multilateral organisations, first of all the CIS, the CSTO and the SCO.

Vladimir Putin and Emomali Rahmon agreed to maintain close contacts.

Telephone conversation with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov


During their telephone conversation, Vladimir Putin and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov exchanged greetings on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

April 8, 2022
13:10

The two leaders discussed topical issues on the bilateral agenda and prospects for cooperation in regional formats, including within the Caspian Five. They reaffirmed their mutual resolve to further promote the strategic partnership between Russia and Turkmenistan.
Vladimir Putin invited Serdar Berdimuhamedov to visit Russia. The invitation was accepted with gratitude.
 
Couldn't get on the Kremlin yesterday but is working fine today. Things getting smoothed out between Armenia and Azerbaijan:

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan


Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan at the latter’s initiative.

April 9, 2022
14:15

The leaders discussed current issues on the bilateral agenda, including preparations for the forthcoming visit by the Prime Minister of Armenia to Russia.

Nikol Pashinyan informed Mr Putin about his talks with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Brussels on April 6. In this connection, Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed the importance of consistently implementing the trilateral agreements of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia of November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021, including by establishing a commission on delimiting the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and launching projects to restore economic ties and transport links. The leaders also covered issues of working out a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Active Russian-Armenian contacts will continue at different levels.

Telephone conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev


Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the initiative of the Azerbaijani side.

April 9, 2022
15:30

The Presidents discussed the outcome of Ilham Aliyev’s April 6 talks in Brussels with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. They stressed the need to fully implement the agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia as well as to step up the efforts of the trilateral working group on developing economic ties and transport links in the region. They also discussed the launch of the delimitation of the Azerbaijan-Armenia border and preparations of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The leaders reaffirmed their mutual commitment to continue close interaction on the current agenda of bilateral relations.
 
From the Kremlin:

Instructions following a meeting on socioeconomic support for regions


Vladimir Putin approved a list of instructions following a meeting on socioeconomic support for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation held on March 16, 2022.

April 10, 2022
18:30

The Government of the Russian Federation was instructed to oversee the adoption of amendments to legislation to establish, by December 31, 2022, a special procedure for assessing the financial status of families whose members lost their jobs after March 1, 2022 and have been registered as unemployed so that social support measures are provided to these families, and to enhance the accessibility of social support measures for families with children whose income has decreased considerably after March 1, 2022.

Instructions also have to do with additional support measures for the unemployed, an additional indexation of pensions, social benefits and wages at state- and municipally-owned organisations, as well as the increase of the minimum wage and subsistence minimum.

In addition, instructions provide for federal budgetary allocations to the budgets of the Russian Federation constituent entities for increasing the authorised capital of regional guarantee institutions, regional industry development funds and leasing companies with state capital; the allocation in 2022–2024 of additional federal funds to finance the construction of infrastructure facilities and to increase the acquisition of commodities made in Russia (including passenger public transport), works and services provided by Russian entities, with special attention paid to increasing domestic demand for the output of export-oriented sectors of the economy.

The Government was instructed to ensure the execution in full measure of strategic tasks, national goals, relevant state programmes of the Russian Federation, national and federal projects (programmes).

Instructions for the Government also have to do with the procedure for allocating various budgetary loans to the constituent and municipal entities of the Russian Federation; an additional indexation of equalising subsidies for budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation; the monitoring of regional budgets and, if necessary, the adoption of additional support measures for them; and the allocation of additional federal budgetary funds to the regions to offset the growing costs of construction works and construction materials in order to complete the planned construction of facilities.

The Government of the Russian Federation, together with State Council commissions, was instructed to consider a number of issues related, in particular, to various aspects of the operation of small and medium-sized enterprises; support for domestic producers of road and special equipment to ensure the implementation of major projects; additional support measures for import substitution research and design projects; restricting the growth of common municipal, suburban and interurban transportation prices; amending the legislation to accelerate the design and construction periods for priority infrastructure projects.

The Government of the Russian Federation, in cooperation with executive authorities of the Russian Federation constituent entities, was instructed to bring down the level of poverty and income inequality in 2022; to ensure the supply of the necessary amount of essential goods, medicines and medical products to the domestic market; to monitor the situation on the markets with a high share of exports and take measures to maintain the production of export commodities and to increase their delivery to the domestic market.

Instructions for the Government, together with the Bank of Russia, stipulate support for transport and logistics companies, in particular, by increasing the volume of foreign currency cash which the transport companies that are residents of the Russian Federation receive to cover mandatory spending on their operations in the territory of foreign states; by approving deferred lease or loan payments for the vehicles detained in the territory of foreign sates until their physical return to the territory of Russia; and by adopting a simplified procedure for the payment of claims under insurance contracts for the vehicles detained in the territory of foreign states without confirmation of the insurance event by government agencies and companies under the jurisdiction of foreign states.

The Government of the Russian Federation, together with law enforcement agencies and the Emergencies Ministry, was instructed to ensure the continued easing of the regulatory and administrative pressure on businesses.

The Government of the Russian Federation, in cooperation with the State Council Commission on State and Municipal Administration, is to analyse the state of socioeconomic development of the Russian Federation constituent entities and, if necessary, adopt decisions to stabilise their economic and social situation.

Recommendation were also given to senior officials and bodies of state authority of the Russian Federation constituent entities.

Vladimir Putin arrived in Amur Region


The President has arrived in the Amur Region, where he will visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome together with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

April 12, 2022
09:00

Amur Region

Vladimir Putin will present state decorations to pilot-cosmonauts and together with Alexander Lukashenko will meet with cosmodrome staff.

After that the leaders will hold talks to discuss topical issues of developing bilateral cooperation and promoting integration within the Union State.

On the same day, the President will hold working meetings with General Director of Roscosmos State Corporation Dmitry Rogozin and Governor of the Amur Region Vasily Orlov.

Visiting Vostochny Cosmodrome


On Cosmonautics Day, Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko arrived at Vostochny Cosmodrome.

April 12, 2022
11:20

Amur Region

Both leaders flew over the territory in a helicopter and assessed the construction of the Cosmodrome and its infrastructure. The presidents of Russia and Belarus subsequently visited the construction sites of a command centre and a facility for putting the Angara launch vehicles into orbit.

Ceremony for presenting state decorations


While on a visit to Vostochny Cosmodrome, Vladimir Putin presented state decorations to three employees of the Yury Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Centre.

April 12, 2022
12:20

Amur Region

Sergei Prokopyev, a cosmonaut and test pilot from the Yury Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Centre, received the title of Hero of Russia and an honorary badge Pilot-Cosmonaut of Russia. Instructor and cosmonaut and test pilot Alexander Skvortsov and the Centre’s lead specialist Oleg Skripochka were awarded the Order for Services to the Fatherland, III degree.

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko also attended the ceremony.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends, Mr Lukashenko.

More than 60 years ago, on April 12, 1961, Soviet officer Yury Gagarin performed the first space flight in history. We are marking Cosmonautics Day to commemorate his feat and this landmark achievement.

Each of us is experiencing special feelings today, including genuine pride for the generations that accomplished a grandiose technological breakthrough, and faith in the future, in our might and progressive development and confidence that we will certainly achieve all our goals. I am confident that this will be so.

I warmly congratulate all our citizens, the citizens of Russia and the citizens of Belarus, all our compatriots, cosmonauts and the staff of Vostochny Cosmodrome, active and retired workers of the rocket and space sector.

I would like to separately address and say a few warm words to service personnel of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Space, air force, space force are closely interlinked. We know that our officers are currently involved in the special military operation in Donbass, Ukraine, and that they are assisting the people’s republics of Donbass. They are acting bravely, skilfully, effectively and with good results, as they use the most advanced types of weapons with unique and unprecedented specifications.

The discoveries and inventions of humankind’s greatest thinkers, our compatriots Tsiolkovsky, Korolev, Glushko, Chelomei and other outstanding Russian scientists and designers, the unparalleled work of teams from all over the Soviet Union, our engineers and workers are the main foundation of our achievements in addressing defensive tasks and developing civilian space technologies.

They worked for the country in the full sense of the word, they fought for their Fatherland at plants, factories and design bureaux, and they won the toughest race for leadership in outer space. They developed the first artificial space satellite, the first manned spacecraft and the first space station, and they also launched automatic probes to study the Moon and Mars.

It was a domestically built spacecraft that made the first ever landing on the incandescent surface of Venus. No other nation in the world has been able to develop such a technological solution to this day, or for that matter many other rocket and space technologies.

The generation of national rocket and space programme creators has left us not only immense technological achievements but also values that we look up to, even today, and examples of comradeship, audacity – in the finest sense of the word – willpower and courage, which unite and inspire us to this day. Our ancestors’ message to us is their urge to move forward, despite all challenges or outside attempts to hamper our advance.

We will certainly implement – consistently and in a persistent manner – all the plans we have mapped out. We will continue developing a new-generation transport spacecraft and space nuclear energy technologies, where undoubtedly, we have made a very good headstart and possess absolutely obvious advantages. We will resume the moon-exploration programme: I am referring to the [planned] launch of an autonomous craft, the Luna 25 robotised space system, from Vostochny Cosmodrome.

I would like to stress that we must successfully respond to space exploration challenges so as to be able to more effectively pursue national development goals here, on planet Earth, strengthen our security and technological sovereignty, and create advanced R&D in robotics, microelectronics, the environment, medicine, new energy, as well as navigation and communications.

For example, it is necessary to tap the potential of space information technologies at a new level to ensure further introduction of digital services into all sectors of the economy, state administration, education, healthcare, and everyday life. For this purpose, we intend to expand considerably the quantitative and qualitative potential of Russia’s satellite fleet under the Sfera programme.

As for Earth remote sensing, we have started a major project to manufacture and launch specialised spacecraft. To do this, we have pooled the scientific and industrial potential of Russia and the leading Belarusian companies, which have been renowned since Soviet times for their skills in producing precision equipment and the most complex optoelectronic and radio engineering systems.

Jointly creating an infrastructure that can guarantee the Union State independent access to space will be yet another important, signature dimension of our collaboration.

Very soon, Belarusian workers and specialists, companies and enterprises, will be able to contribute to developing the city of Tsiolkovsky and Vostochny Cosmodrome. The State Duma has already approved legislative amendments to this effect, and once the Federation Council reviews them, which will also happen quite soon, I will immediately sign them into law.

There is another decision I wanted to mention specifically. I am asking Roscosmos to arrange the necessary training and organise a flight of a Belarusian national into space on a Russian spacecraft. We discussed this with Mr Lukashenko a long time ago. I am certain that this will be yet another major milestone in our cooperation in space exploration.

Friends,

It would not be an exaggeration to say that being a cosmonaut is a heroic profession, since every spaceflight is always about accomplishing a feat, of being a pioneer, penetrating the unknown and reaching the limits of human capabilities, while performing the most challenging research and engineering tasks. Of course, people who demonstrate personal courage, strong spirit, boldness, a high level of competence and successfully deliver on a mission that matters so much for our country deserve the highest decorations.

It is a pleasure for me to present these decorations to our cosmonauts, especially since we have been waiting for so long to hold this ceremony.

Sergei Prokopyev is hereby awarded the Hero of the Russian Federation title and the honorary title Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation. During his first space expedition, he carried out two spacewalks, including an extremely challenging inspection of the spacecraft’s outer covering, writing a page into the history of world cosmonautics. As far as I know, there were no proper fastening devices. How this was done is of course a separate story.

Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Skripochka carried out three long orbital missions each. Through the honest and responsible service to their Motherland they made a substantial contribution to developing manned spaceflight programmes and Russia’s role in them, enhanced our country’s standing. For that, they receive the Order for Services to the Fatherland, III degree.

Once again, I would like to offer you my greetings on this holiday, friends, and congratulate our cosmonauts on receiving these high decorations.

Let us move on with the ceremony.

<…>
 

Ceremony for presenting state decorations


While on a visit to Vostochny Cosmodrome, Vladimir Putin presented state decorations to three employees of the Yury Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Centre.

April 12, 2022
12:20
Amur Region

Sergei Prokopyev, a cosmonaut and test pilot from the Yury Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Centre, received the title of Hero of Russia and an honorary badge Pilot-Cosmonaut of Russia. Instructor and cosmonaut and test pilot Alexander Skvortsov and the Centre’s lead specialist Oleg Skripochka were awarded the Order for Services to the Fatherland, III degree.

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko also attended the ceremony.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends, Mr Lukashenko.

More than 60 years ago, on April 12, 1961, Soviet officer Yury Gagarin performed the first space flight in history. We are marking Cosmonautics Day to commemorate his feat and this landmark achievement.

Each of us is experiencing special feelings today, including genuine pride for the generations that accomplished a grandiose technological breakthrough, and faith in the future, in our might and progressive development and confidence that we will certainly achieve all our goals. I am confident that this will be so.

I warmly congratulate all our citizens, the citizens of Russia and the citizens of Belarus, all our compatriots, cosmonauts and the staff of Vostochny Cosmodrome, active and retired workers of the rocket and space sector.

I would like to separately address and say a few warm words to service personnel of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Space, air force, space force are closely interlinked. We know that our officers are currently involved in the special military operation in Donbass, Ukraine, and that they are assisting the people’s republics of Donbass. They are acting bravely, skilfully, effectively and with good results, as they use the most advanced types of weapons with unique and unprecedented specifications.

The discoveries and inventions of humankind’s greatest thinkers, our compatriots Tsiolkovsky, Korolev, Glushko, Chelomei and other outstanding Russian scientists and designers, the unparalleled work of teams from all over the Soviet Union, our engineers and workers are the main foundation of our achievements in addressing defensive tasks and developing civilian space technologies.

They worked for the country in the full sense of the word, they fought for their Fatherland at plants, factories and design bureaux, and they won the toughest race for leadership in outer space. They developed the first artificial space satellite, the first manned spacecraft and the first space station, and they also launched automatic probes to study the Moon and Mars.

It was a domestically built spacecraft that made the first ever landing on the incandescent surface of Venus. No other nation in the world has been able to develop such a technological solution to this day, or for that matter many other rocket and space technologies.

The generation of national rocket and space programme creators has left us not only immense technological achievements but also values that we look up to, even today, and examples of comradeship, audacity – in the finest sense of the word – willpower and courage, which unite and inspire us to this day. Our ancestors’ message to us is their urge to move forward, despite all challenges or outside attempts to hamper our advance.

We will certainly implement – consistently and in a persistent manner – all the plans we have mapped out. We will continue developing a new-generation transport spacecraft and space nuclear energy technologies, where undoubtedly, we have made a very good headstart and possess absolutely obvious advantages. We will resume the moon-exploration programme: I am referring to the [planned] launch of an autonomous craft, the Luna 25 robotised space system, from Vostochny Cosmodrome.

I would like to stress that we must successfully respond to space exploration challenges so as to be able to more effectively pursue national development goals here, on planet Earth, strengthen our security and technological sovereignty, and create advanced R&D in robotics, microelectronics, the environment, medicine, new energy, as well as navigation and communications.

For example, it is necessary to tap the potential of space information technologies at a new level to ensure further introduction of digital services into all sectors of the economy, state administration, education, healthcare, and everyday life. For this purpose, we intend to expand considerably the quantitative and qualitative potential of Russia’s satellite fleet under the Sfera programme.

As for Earth remote sensing, we have started a major project to manufacture and launch specialised spacecraft. To do this, we have pooled the scientific and industrial potential of Russia and the leading Belarusian companies, which have been renowned since Soviet times for their skills in producing precision equipment and the most complex optoelectronic and radio engineering systems.

Jointly creating an infrastructure that can guarantee the Union State independent access to space will be yet another important, signature dimension of our collaboration.

Very soon, Belarusian workers and specialists, companies and enterprises, will be able to contribute to developing the city of Tsiolkovsky and Vostochny Cosmodrome. The State Duma has already approved legislative amendments to this effect, and once the Federation Council reviews them, which will also happen quite soon, I will immediately sign them into law.

There is another decision I wanted to mention specifically. I am asking Roscosmos to arrange the necessary training and organise a flight of a Belarusian national into space on a Russian spacecraft. We discussed this with Mr Lukashenko a long time ago. I am certain that this will be yet another major milestone in our cooperation in space exploration.

Friends,

It would not be an exaggeration to say that being a cosmonaut is a heroic profession, since every spaceflight is always about accomplishing a feat, of being a pioneer, penetrating the unknown and reaching the limits of human capabilities, while performing the most challenging research and engineering tasks. Of course, people who demonstrate personal courage, strong spirit, boldness, a high level of competence and successfully deliver on a mission that matters so much for our country deserve the highest decorations.

It is a pleasure for me to present these decorations to our cosmonauts, especially since we have been waiting for so long to hold this ceremony.

Sergei Prokopyev is hereby awarded the Hero of the Russian Federation title and the honorary title Pilot-Cosmonaut of the Russian Federation. During his first space expedition, he carried out two spacewalks, including an extremely challenging inspection of the spacecraft’s outer covering, writing a page into the history of world cosmonautics. As far as I know, there were no proper fastening devices. How this was done is of course a separate story.

Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Skripochka carried out three long orbital missions each. Through the honest and responsible service to their Motherland they made a substantial contribution to developing manned spaceflight programmes and Russia’s role in them, enhanced our country’s standing. For that, they receive the Order for Services to the Fatherland, III degree.

Once again, I would like to offer you my greetings on this holiday, friends, and congratulate our cosmonauts on receiving these high decorations.

Let us move on with the ceremony.

Sergei Prokopyev: Mr President, colleagues, employees of Vostochny Cosmodrome,

Thank you for the high praise not only of my work but also of the work done by hundreds of teams and thousands of people involved in manned space flights. I dedicate this decoration to my family, my wife, my friends and my mentors.

I want to say that our people have always been proud of Soviet and Russian achievements in space exploration. Cosmonauts always seek to rise to the standard of our ancestors and predecessors. We want our people and our country to continue being proud of the Russian space industry.

I want to thank the Cosmonaut Training Centre that employs unique specialists, the Mission Control Centre, the Centre for Operation of Space Ground-Based Infrastructure, all designers and engineers involved in creating space equipment, and all those who have always held the banner of Russian space exploration at the highest world level.

In conclusion, I want to say that I am proud to spearhead the Russian Federation’s programme of manned space flights and am ready to devote all my energy to this endeavour.

Happy holiday to everyone!

I serve Russia!

Alexander Skvortsov: Good afternoon, friends,

I also want to wish everyone a happy holiday and express gratitude for this assessment of our work. I fully support what Sergei Prokopyev has said.

But I want to perform an honorary mission. Before a space mission, each crew is allowedto take along something precious and valuable for it. My crew took the Victory Banner.

Today is Cosmonautics Day, and quite soon we will mark Victory Day. This banner was with us in space for six months, and we brought it back to Earth. We celebrated Victory Day with this banner, paying tribute to our great-grandfathers, grandfathers and fathers who fought against Nazi invaders and Nazism. There is a stamp on this banner, which confirms that it has really been in space at the International Space Station. There is also a photograph to this effect.

Allow me to ask your permission, Mr President, to attend to the wish of my superiors, Roscosmos, the cosmonaut team, and all those involved in space activities, and ask you to hand this banner to the commander of the ongoing special military operation and wish all those participating in it at this moment that the word “victory” would be said as often as possible as they perform their missions.

Let me take it with me now, Mr President, and I will hand it over after the awards ceremony.

Thank you.

Conversation with Vostochny Cosmodrome employees

Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko met with Vostochny Cosmodrome employees.

April 12, 2022
12:30
Amur Region

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I would like to once again wish you a happy holiday.

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: I congratulate you on your decorations.

Remark: Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: As I already mentioned, we started this in the Soviet Union, and we worked together. The entire Soviet Union stood behind the first manned flight into space. We remember this well. I am pleased to note that these efforts have continued to this day. Indeed, the circumstances have changed, but we continue to cooperate. It is no coincidence that the President of Belarus is here with me today.

We have been discussing for some time now ways to use our common capabilities and competencies and to combine them, starting with simple things like construction work, and all the way to the creation of spacecraft. I mentioned the advantages of Belarusian enterprises in my earlier remarks, and we are using them in full. We are confident that this will benefit our space industry.

So, happy holiday once again, and I wish you continued success in your work.

I think Vostochny Cosmodrome is one of the largest construction projects in Europe and the world, a major facility with bright development prospects. As far as super-heavy duty rockets are concerned, there is work to do until 2035. The scope of the work is formidable but everything is going as scheduled. Unfortunately, the pandemic has taken its toll, and we had to shift the schedule “to the right side of the chart” a bit, but it has been updated overall, and the work will continue.

I wish you all the best.

Remark: Thank you very much.

Dmitry Bolotov: Mr President, may I ask you a question?

Bolotov Dmitry, Vostochny Space Centre.

We are celebrating International Cosmonautics Day today in our country and around the world, too. What do you think about this holiday? Do you remember April 12, 1961?

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I do. Oddly enough, but I do.

(Addressing President Lukashenko.) Mr Lukashenko, do you remember April 12?

I was a child. How old was I? I was 9 back then. Frankly, I did not fully understand what was happening, but I knew something great and unusual had happened. Strangers were hugging and kissing in the streets.

It really looked like Victory Day too, because for me, as a 9 year-old, it was clear that something unusual had happened. I didn’t know what outer space was, and what a manned flight into outer space for the first time in history meant, but it was absolutely clear that a grand event had taken place, and it had to do with our country’s tremendous achievements. Even a 9 year-old could sense the pride in the country in the air.

It was such an outstanding event that I kept everything that happened back then in my memory.

Of course, it was broadcast on television. Even children were impressed, let alone the adults who jubilated in the truest sense of the word. The country celebrated, and one might say the entire world did too.

I am confident we will have events of this kind in the future as well.

Thank you.

Nikolai Aistov: Nikolai Aistov, Russian Space Systems.

This is not a question.

You mentioned this issue today. I would like to say that all of us wholeheartedly support the operations of our army and we want the tasks and goals set for the special military operation to be achieved.

This is all I wanted to say.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: You can bet on it. There is no doubt about that.

The goals are absolutely clear; these are noble goals. I said this at the very beginning. I would like to point out that I indicated these goals in my first address to the people and the Armed Forces. The main goal is to help the people of Donbass, the people’s republics of Donbass, which we have recognised. It was a forced decision because, regrettably, the Kiev authorities, pushed by the West, refused to implement the Minsk Agreements that were aimed at a peaceful solution to the problem of Donbass and the two people’s republics.

They openly refused to do this. The President [of Ukraine] said that he did not like a single clause of the agreement, and other [Ukrainian] officials said that the agreements could not be implemented because they would destroy the country. They publicly refused to honour them.

We could no longer tolerate that genocide, which went on for eight years. This is the first point.

Second, Ukraine was being turned into a bridgehead, regrettably for us, into an anti-Russia bridgehead. They started nurturing the germs of nationalism and neo-Nazism that appeared in that country long ago. You know that, if you took note of what I said in one of my public addresses, they specially nurtured that neo-Nazi virus, and Russia’s clash with these forces was inevitable. They were just choosing the right time for an attack. The subsequent events have shown how much this has germinated. It is an obvious fact. Regrettably, neo-Nazism has become a fact of life in a big country with which we had close affinity. This is clear. It was imminent, and just a matter of time.

What we are doing there is helping people, saving them from genocide, on the one hand, and at the same time we are taking measures to ensure the security of Russia itself – it is obvious that we had no alternative and that it was the right step.

And there is no doubt that we will definitely attain the goals set.

Anything else?

Alexander Tarakanov: May I ask a question?

Vladimir Putin: Go ahead.

Alexander Tarakanov: Alexander Tarakanov, NPO Lavochkin.

Mr President, can Russia continue working on its aerospace programme under the sanctions imposed by the unfriendly countries? What measures are being taken to strengthen our technological sovereignty in this sphere?

Vladimir Putin: Mr Tarakanov, we were just talking about Yury Gagarin’s first space flight. In 1961, the Soviet Union was in complete technological isolation, and the sanctions against it were overwhelming. Nevertheless, the Soviet Union became the first country to orbit an artificial earth satellite, the first man in space was a Soviet citizen, and the first space station was ours, and the first mission to the Moon was ours as well, if memory serves, the first spacewalk was made by our man, and the first woman in space was our Valentina Tereshkova, God bless her. We did all of that in conditions of complete technological isolation, and yet we made these incredible achievements.

Can’t today’s Russia, with advanced technologies at its disposal, continue to work on its space programme, which we have outlined until 2030? Of course, we will do it.

Moreover, this may sound strange because it seemingly concerns different spheres, but I have mentioned it many times: when the first sanctions were imposed in 2014, some of our industries, for example, agriculture, made huge strides. Our agriculture has become a high-tech sector. Our agricultural exports have even exceeded the export of our weapons systems by a large margin, by US$10 billion.

Of course, modern science and technologies are interconnected, and we are not going to isolate ourselves. It is impossible to completely isolate anyone in the modern world, let alone a large country like Russia. Therefore, we will work with those of our partners who want to cooperate with us. We will work on near space and outer space programmes, and we will also implement our moon-exploration programme.

As you know, we plan to implement the Luna 25 lander mission in the third quarter. Can we make it in the third quarter?

General Director of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities Dmitry Rogozin: We must. The launch window will close in the third quarter.

Vladimir Putin: Well, there you go.

We will continue working. Even the Vostochny development plans are set out until 2035. We will continue to develop technologies and improve our competencies.

What we could buy with petrodollars and gas profits before – well, the money will remain in the country anyway. We will use them to develop our own competencies. I know this will do us a lot of good.

Alexander Tarakanov: Thank you.

To be continued.
 

Meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

Vladimir Putin held talks with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at Vostochny Cosmodrome.

April 12, 2022
15:20
Amur Region

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko,

Thank you very much for coming here, to the Russian Far East, to a project that is still under construction but is already working, our new Vostochny Cosmodrome. You have seen the scale of the project.

It is symbolic that we are meeting here on April 12, Cosmonautics Day, because very many things in the life of the former Soviet Union, in our lives and in the life of our generations, are associated with that day, April 12, 1961. It was a day of triumph for the Soviet Union, the day of the first man in space, the first manned flight. It is pleasant that we are talking about continuing our cooperation today, under new conditions, based on the achievements reached in the previous decades and the latest best practices.

I am referring to the creation of a new satellite for high-resolution remote sensing of the Earth and our future joint project on plasma engine, which we can make use of; it is a highly promising area. Of course, there is also the construction of the cosmodrome – we need good construction professionals, with high competencies and good technologies. Thanks to your efforts, Belarus has not only preserved all these resources but is actively developing them, and we can use them to address our common goals, which will undoubtedly boost the development of our economies and high technologies in our countries.

Of course, I would like to use this occasion, our meeting today, to talk about our continued cooperation in the spheres we have outlined for the further development of the Union State. There is still much to do.

Despite the so-called external pressure, our economic relations are growing successfully. Our trade has reached nearly US$40 billion or more precisely US$38 billion, which is a very good indicator. Belarus is one of Russia’s leading trade partners.

Moreover, the current circumstances and external pressure offer us new opportunities to make use of all our potential capabilities to support each other and to provide unconditional support to our development, including in such high-tech spheres as space exploration.

This is in addition to [our cooperation in] agriculture and industry. We have done a great deal over the past years to boost our cooperation. Essentially, we have opened up our market to Belarusian goods. I believe that it is a very good pillar of cooperation on both sides.

I would also like to mention our cooperation in energy, including nuclear energy (we are completing a major project in Belarus) and hydrocarbons, that is, oil and gas. There are issues we need to consider and discuss, including industry, and not only the production of agricultural equipment but also many other branches, mechanical engineering, namely heavy machine building.

I am delighted to see you. Welcome.

To be continued.
 

Joint news conference with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

Following the talks, Vladimir Putin and President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko made statements for the press and answered media questions.

April 12, 2022
16:10
Amur Region

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko, friends,

I consider it important and symbolic that the talks with the President of Belarus today, on Cosmonautics Day, took place here, at Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Our nations are proud that the first manned flight to space, by Yury Gagarin, 61 years ago ushered in a new era of space exploration.

President Lukashenko and I visited the Cosmodrome’s key facilities on this memorable day – the command centre and the launching pad for the Angara launch vehicles. We talked to Cosmodrome employees and met with the pilot-cosmonauts who received Russia’s high state decorations just recently, a few hours ago.

Everything that we saw during our visit to Vostochny Cosmodrome, all the successes in space exploration over the past few years show that our country maintains its leadership in cosmonautics. It is obviously a leader in this area. Russia’s space industry is dynamically developing with reliance on the powerful scientific and technical potential created over the past decades.

Importantly, together with our Belarusian friends, we have managed to preserve and enhance our close cooperation in space research. Our countries are carrying out joint programmes and we will continue doing all we can to promote cooperation in this vital area.

I would like to note that on April 1, on the eve of the Day of Unity between the peoples of Russia and Belarus, Mr Lukashenko, acting as the Chairman of the Union State Supreme State Council awarded prizes in science and technology to teams of Russian and Belarusian scientists for joint space developments.

We agreed to continue encouraging this cooperation, in particular, to intensify the work on developing a space system for the remote sensing of the Earth. These are devices for electro-optical high-detail video surveillance, which will become a key element in the EAEU-developed integrated system for producing space and geo-information products.

One more promising move is to involve Belarusian specialists in building space infrastructure on Russian territory, including this Cosmodrome. A law is about to be adopted to allow citizens and companies from Belarus to work on the territory of the Tsiolkovsky closed administrative-territorial formation of the Amur Region, where we are now.

We also discussed an orbital mission with a Belarusian cosmonaut. This could take place as early as next year.

Naturally, during the talks we reviewed in detail many other current bilateral issues. As closest allies, we are building relations on the immutable principles of mutual respect and support and traditions of friendship and neighbourliness which are upheld by our common history, spiritual and cultural values and close ties of kinship.

Belarus is our leading trade and economic partner in the CIS and ranks fourth for us globally. In 2021, our trade grew by more than one third – as we have just discussed – reaching US$40 billion. I am convinced that in the current situation, when the Western countries have unleashed a complete sanctions war against Russia and Belarus, it is important to deepen our integration within the Union State, and we agree with Mr President on this issue.

We will continue to oppose any attempt to impede the development of our countries or to isolate them artificially from the global economy. I believe this is pointless; Russia and Belarus have always been closely linked economically. As I said, we are tied in many ways, including industrial cooperation, and such attempts will never succeed against us. I am confident that we will become even stronger because we will develop our own competences and, importantly, we will not isolate ourselves.

Our governments and relevant departments have organised work on import substitution and the uninterrupted functioning of financial and commodity markets. The Union State has the following priorities: to unify and harmonise trade regulations, remove administrative and technical barriers, and create equal opportunities for Russian and Belarusian citizens and companies. These are the goals of the 28 sectoral programmes endorsed by the Supreme State Council on November 4, 2021. The President of Belarus noted today that our countries have already carried out over 30 percent of what we had planned by the end of 2023.

Thus, we determined approaches to the formation of a uniform monetary policy, currency regulations and integration of national payment systems with banking. We signed a contract on harmonising our customs legislation. We are working to launch an interstate centre on financial risk management. We are creating an integrated system for administering indirect taxes. We met halfway our Belarusian friends and granted them comfortable terms for servicing Russian loans. We hope this will help strengthen the entire financial sector of the Union State.

In energy, we finalised a draft international contract to create an integrated electricity market. Russia keeps its lowest prices on oil and gas for domestic consumption in Belarus. Payments for them have been switched to Russian rubles. This makes it possible to minimise the negative influence of the external environment on the position of Belarusian citizens and industrial companies.

The joint construction of a Belarusian nuclear power plant is nearing completion. Its second power unit will be put into operation by the end of this year.

In transport, we launched an integrated product tracking system. We are gradually integrating databases of government monitoring bodies in transport supervision. We intend to accelerate the development of new transport routes in the south and the east to guarantee delivery of our products abroad.

Of course, we discussed issues related to creating a common defence space and ensuring the security of the Union State. We analysed measures to defend our western borders, the course of military-technical cooperation and specified the plans for joint exercises. Mr Lukashenko was informed in detail about the progress of the special military operation in Donbass and Ukraine and the progress of talks.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to our Belarusian colleagues for the efficient organisation of several negotiating rounds on their territory. A direct dialogue with the Ukrainian side was possible largely due to President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko’s personal efforts. We believe the Belarusian platform is quite suitable for further meetings.

Overall, Mr Lukashenko and I have covered almost all areas of our interaction today.

The President of Belarus has yet to visit Vladivostok. The President plans to see the cultural and educational centre that is being built with the participation of Belarusian specialists, as well as to become more familiar with the achievements of the Far Eastern Federal District in the socioeconomic and other spheres.

Mr President, I am sure this part of your visit will be productive and will help expand and strengthen our interaction.

Thank you for your attention.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: Mr Putin, ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of Russia for the warm welcome on this land. This trip to this Far Eastern land is extremely important to us. This is a stunning and extraordinary land.

Frankly, I have long wanted to come here. For me, it was a kind of a romantic adventure. The fact that we had a chance to see the implementation of a project such as Vostochny Cosmodrome on Cosmonautics Day made the general impression received by our entire delegation even stronger. This is a world-class project, as they often refer to it. No, it is above world level. No one else in the world has ever carried out such a project.

Space exploration is our shared goal. During Soviet times, Belarusians made a significant contribution to the development of cosmonautics.

In our times, with the help of fraternal Russia, we have managed not only to revive the old competencies, but also to develop many new ones. As a result, Belarus has joined the ranks of space powers. In fact, we have created a new branch of the economy, space economics, and we are proud of these successes. Most importantly, we see prospects for the future which include developing a system for remote sensing of the Earth – a decision concerning this programme was made today, satellite communications and many other exciting areas of cooperation in this sphere.

The time has probably come to open the door to space for new Belarusian cosmonauts. I am grateful to the President for supporting this initiative and, moreover, for making a decision, in conjunction with the head of Roscosmos, to finance the training and the launching of our cosmonaut into space.

Of course, as Mr President said, we also had an in-depth discussion on other current issues on the bilateral agenda, on political, diplomatic, economic and, of course, military and defence matters.

There have never been such dangerous and complicated periods in the modern history of our relations with the West. I pointed this out when we discussed the issue that everyone is talking about today; I pointed this out to Mr President, and I said this for a reason, that if Russia had taken even a bit longer to start its military operation, a blow they believed to be crushing would have been delivered at the adjacent regions. We can clearly see today that this was more than possible.

Therefore, those who say that it was the wrong move or that it was made in the wrong place and at the wrong time should weigh it against the potential consequences of what would have happened had this move been made a month or even two weeks later. There is nothing more to add.

It is like the story in Bucha; we discussed that policy. There is a lot of commotion, but they just needed to adopt a new package of sanctions, as we know very well. We discussed their special operation today, the psychological operation carried out by the British. If you want to know the addresses, the secret meeting places, the licence plate numbers, the brands of vehicles they used in Bucha, and how they did it, the FSB of Russia can provide this information. If not, we can help. We exposed that ugly, disgusting position of the West together with our Russian friends, in full and from the beginning to the end.

Back then, we decided that the cold war was over, that the page had been turned and we would live in a new, civilised and fair world based on mutual understanding and the rule of international law. This is what we thought, but the West thought differently. They did not destroy us back then, and so they have decided to do it now. We are in an extremely dangerous situation; it is a showdown, and it did not appear out of thin air. Washington and Brussels have been deliberately moving towards this for years. It is perfectly clear now that, regrettably, the clash could not be avoided. Moreover, as I said before, it was only a matter of time and place. I would like to stress again that if we had waited a little longer, the consequences would have been extremely severe.

The governments of Belarus and Russia have prepared comprehensive packages of measures to overcome, among other things, the sanctions pressure, to support the economies, to expand cooperation and, most importantly, import substitution, to reconfigure supply chains and to switch to a new mechanism for foreign trade cooperation.

As we are responding to current challenges today, we must already be looking to tomorrow, which is what is happening here, and putting in place a ground-breaking economic development strategy for building the Union State for the long term.

They say the world will never be the same, which is true. For those who would very much like to return, as they say, to their comfort zone, we can say it straight: forget about it. The modern world is all about fierce struggle and civilisational clashes. Incidentally, the West has never had any illusions in this regard. By the way, there was once a major figure in Europe who, in the 1930s and 1940s, also tried to establish a new order. We are all well aware of how it all ended.

So, I think it is time for Washington to return to the recent past when our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers stood up to the enemy and eventually won. We will also win, as has happened many times in our common thousand-year history.

Thank you.

Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov: Thank you.

We will ask the presidents to take four questions, two questions each from Belarusian and Russian journalists.

As is customary, we will start with our guests.

Question: Good afternoon!

President Putin, to follow up on your remarks, this question is for you.

You said it is symbolic that your meeting with President Lukashenko is taking place right here, at Vostochny Cosmodrome. Mr Lukashenko added that this project exceeds global standards.

I will start my question with a comment. We found out that President Lukashenko is the only head of a foreign state to ever visit this place. We believe that an invitation to such a facility is quite symbolic for Belarus and Russia alike. But there is a stereotype we often hear, especially in Russia, pardon me for repeating it, that we are like “little brothers.”

How appropriate is that in light of recent developments over the past several years? I do not know the answer, so I want to ask you personally. Tell me, please, how dear has Belarus become to you in light of recent years and events?

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: I would emphasise the second word: not “little” but “brothers.” We have always treated Belarus this way. And nothing has changed in the past few months. We had no doubt that if any country backed us, it was Belarusians, it was Belarus.

It has always been like this throughout our centuries-long common history. We do not even particularly distinguish where Belarus ends and where Russia begins, where Russia is and Belarus is. Also, however strange it may sound today, I have always said that we are a triune nation: Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.

There is no doubt at all that is happening in Ukraine is a tragedy. But the President rightly said that we were left without a choice. There was simply no choice. There was only a question of time – when it will start. This is all.

As for Belarus, I have already expressed my position: Mr Lukashenko’s presence here today is no accident. This shows once again a) the special character of our relations, and b) the pragmatism, including that of the President of Belarus. He repeatedly expressed willingness to take part in building such large high-tech facilities as a cosmodrome.

But we had a law that banned foreign companies and individuals from participation in closed territorial formations. But we have changed this law. As you know, we are changing it now. The Duma has already passed it, now it will go to the Federation Council and I will certainly sign it.

I would like to note one more aspect. Russia is interested in attracting specialists from Belarus, including rank-and-file builders, as well as specialists, engineers and researchers because, as I have already said, our programme of joint activities in space has several components. It is not limited to the participation of Belarusian builders in the work here, on this complex, but also implies the development of spacecraft and work on manned flights, which we will continue to move forward with. Belarus has preserved the necessary skills and competencies. We are now working on a craft, a satellite that we will jointly develop in research centres and design bureaux, but that will be assembled in Belarus. It is natural for us to continue advancing cooperation that dates back to Soviet times. We will do this on a new basis, of course.

I would like to emphasise it again – the fact that we are doing this with Belarus, and even in closed territorial formations, is symbolic and demonstrates once again how close we are.

Alexander Lukashenko: Excuse me, Mr President. Excuse me, Dmitry.

Our journalist asked his question with the implication that we are “little brothers” and we are somewhat different. This has never been the case! The President of Russia never called Belarusians or me a little brother. You know, this is my terminology. I keep saying, sometimes half-jokingly, sometimes as a joke, and sometimes in earnest, “So what? Little brothers!” If someone said that to us, and President Putin initially felt ill at ease when I said that, I would say to him, “Why should you worry? A little brother means that the big brother can criticise him any time, but he will also help by all means.” Therefore, there was a lot of sense in that. It does not mean that if we are little brothers, we are clumsy. No way!

During our face-to-face conversation today when we were one-on-one, the President listed all the competences the “little brother” has, and he generally mentioned it now. It is a long list. Thanks to Russia, we are a space power today. But we would not be so technologically advanced if we had not taken the decision back then to develop space technologies.

During the first meeting with workshop workers, the President said that space is an engine that drives entire sectors of the economy, high-tech sectors. We have had a good school since Soviet times; Russia did not leave us but helped us. We launched a couple of satellites which are still operating and have long paid for themselves.

Next, the nuclear power plant. It means top-notch technologies. Together with our “big brother” we have created these high technologies in Belarus by building a nuclear power plant. And the Russians, “big brothers,” taught us to build such plants. The key for us is – give us a reactor, and we will build everything else ourselves.

Next, BNBC [Belarussian National Biotechnological Corporation]. You see, the most advanced biotechnology processes, four plants in the world. We have set up this corporation in Belarus.

Defence. It is crucial. The President spoke modestly about it, however, at our talks we focused on the defence of Belarus and Russia. You know that the “little” and “big” brothers set up a joint formation, a joint army in the west. We are being taken to task no less than Russia, you know, “aggressors, aggressors” and the like, as if they did not know that we have a joint army. And once there is a joint army, it is not one part that fights while another stays at home and so on.

I did not conceal that. On the second day of Russia’s operation in Ukraine I openly talked about our role in that operation. Do you remember I said that we will never let anyone shoot a Russian in the back, and this was the essence of our operation, our participation in that operation.

So, we see what is going on, we see the Americans pushing not only Ukraine but also our western neighbour Poland and the Baltics into a standoff with Belarus. So, in this situation the “big brother” will help the “little brother” if needed. That is what it means, and not that the big brother is everything and the little one is unable to do anything.

The fourth area we created and take pride in is missile engineering. The President promised me back at our previous meeting – you know that we are making a more up-to-date missile within the bounds of international law – so he promised me to help in this matter so that we do not waste years designing controls for that missile.

I can name many skills the “little brother” has. One of them is construction. I told the President of Russia once – let us help in this case. Dmitry Rogozin came – he is present here, we discussed with him what we could do here. We can build both industrial facilities and social infrastructure. And the fact that the President has invited a president of another country – even if it is the “little brother” – to a top secret facility, and you came here with me, testifies to the high degree of trust on the part of the “big brother.”

And so I am not especially worried about that. Big, little – we have found a common language. I forgot about all the sanctions while I was here.

We will keep working in all the areas and no sanctions will bend us or keep us from our path. Try not to worry, take it from me. At least you have a brother, even if “little”.

Dmitry Peskov: Over to Russian journalists. Rossiya Segodnya, please.

Question: Good afternoon.

My question concerns the economy. How are the unprecedented sanctions finally affecting the economic situation? What macroeconomic and microeconomic effects do you see and how is the banking sector coping? Perhaps some industries still require additional support? Is there a risk that some sectors may soon enter a challenging phase due to the sanctions? Also, how might these developments impact the economic aspects of the union integration?

Vladimir Putin: We have already covered this issue multiple times. I can only reiterate what was said before. The blitzkrieg that our ill-wishers hoped to achieve was unsuccessful, of course. It is obvious. Our financial system and industrial sector are operating as normal.

Of course, there are issues – otherwise the Central Bank would not have raised the key rate to 20 percent. But, as you know, the Central Bank has already decided to lower the key rate and, in general, this measure is commensurate with the current macroeconomic parameters. As it turns out, the Russian economy and its financial system are standing quite firmly on their feet.

I believe that this trend towards maintaining the macroeconomic indicators and the smooth and paced competent operation of the economic sector will bring results in the days to come.

Of course, we do see and understand the risks related to logistics and payments. It is obvious.

It is also obvious that the Russian economy is stable and effective. I do not want to repeat myself. You can see for yourselves that the dollar exchange rate has returned to the level it was at before the operation, and so on. However, risks may increase in the medium to long term.

Russia’s opponents plan to intensify their efforts. On the other hand, it appears to me that common sense must also prioritise certain things. For example, we are facing obstacles with respect to logistics, port calls, vessel and aircraft insurance and other matters. We have just discussed this using the example of the mineral fertiliser industry.

If our Western partners change nothing here, the volume of Russian and Belarusian mineral fertilisers will shrink in the world market. But our industry will find where to send all this, I assure you. Many countries that we have not classified as unfriendly are eager to get Russian and Belarusian fertilisers. There is no productive agriculture without them. And if agriculture is unable to deliver productively, there will not be enough food in the world, in the world market.

Food prices have already been on the rise, even before the events we are talking about. And the increase is considerable. Prices of certain types of fertiliser are currently three times higher than before the crisis, and they continue to rise.

Among other things, all of this is linked to Western countries’ mistakes in the energy and gas sphere, because natural gas is the primary component in the production of many fertilisers. All of this constitutes chains that are hard to break today. We were not the ones to create these problems. But the situation will get even worse for our partners, among others, if on top of everything else they aggravate the financial, insurance and transport situation, including maritime freight carriage. After all, the dearth of food or exorbitant world prices will lead to famine in entire regions of the world, and this is inevitable. The next step is new waves of migration, including those heading to European countries.

I think commonsense should prevail, after all is said and done. And this is my great hope. Otherwise, those who initiated these processes stand to lose the most.

We are aware that we have to allocate additional resources to support certain sectors. We are also aware that the most correct decision in the emerging situation is to debureaucratise the economy and enable the growth of new production outlets based on newly created logistical chains.

In this connection, I can say that I have much hope for the rise of small and medium-sized businesses, the initiative from below, and the emergence of new leaders in Russia. The economy will adjust to the new situation without fail. If you cannot charter one ship, you can charter another. If you cannot send something to one country, you can send it to a third country. If you cannot buy something here, you can buy it in a fourth country. This is inevitable. The world today is much more complex than it was during the Cold War, when there were just two blocs and everything was covered by the CoCom lists. The world is more complex today and, in this world, a single country will be unable to maintain total domination.

What do we see now? We see the collapse of the unipolar world system that developed after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. This is the main point. The main thing is not the tragic events in Donbass and Ukraine; they are not the main thing. A lot is said about the United States being “ready to fight against Russia to the last Ukrainian.” This is being said there, and it is being said here, and it is true. It is the essence of the current events.

The economy is certainly part of these events. Some countries are trying to preserve their domination, including in the economy, but they will not succeed. Just take a look at the trends in global economic development over the past decade, economic growth in terms of the purchasing power parity, look at the leaders and the pace of development, and everything will become clear. Therefore, those who are adopting unjustified restrictions should come to their senses in good time and make a calm, correct, balanced and safe decision.

Alexander Lukashenko: I wholeheartedly support the opinion of the President of Russia that the era of the unipolar world is over. Simply put, a unipolar world is nonviable. The President has provided a more complex, philosophical explanation. Any system is more stable if based on more than one support. The more supports there are, the more stable the system.

Would it be a bad thing if the global system and the planet rested on four supports: the United States, the European Union as a second support, Russia, China and, possibly, India? Would it be less stable than the current system that is based on a single destructive, self-destructive support – the United States? I believe that sums it up.

As for the sanctions, I wholeheartedly agree that there is nothing good about them. They create additional problems and take up valuable time. Yes, we will create a new system, find new logistics routes and many other things, but this takes time, and we could have used this time to move forward, to accelerate our progress, instead of wasting our time trying to find alternative routes and to figure things out.

Yes, indeed, the world is different today, and it will be impossible to crush anyone, including such a huge country as Russia, which is absolutely self-sufficient but once came to believe in globalism and opened up its markets to its partners. Well, they behaved accordingly. We are telling them, “All right, goodbye, we will get along on our own.”

And we can do everything. Today, we devoted a lot of attention to co-production matters. We talked a lot about our common market. I told the President that, as they say, Belarus is not as huge as Russia, it is smaller, but good things come in small packages.

This is not the most important matter. As the President often says, competencies come first. Look, we have arrived here. It turns out that a gigantic Russia is interested in developing spacecraft together with us. We have these competencies, and Russia will be using them.

Take construction, the simplest aspect. In Soviet times, Belarus served as a school for construction workers. The best builders lived in Belarus. And where have they gone? Well, they are still there. If we obtain a contract here today at the suggestion of President Putin, there is nothing wrong with that.

Four or five months ago, the President and I discussed the issue of more advanced high-tech production facilities, including the creation and manufacture of semiconductors. We found many enterprises in Russia and Belarus, and we are now consolidating them, including Integral and others. The President promised financial support, and we will also do our best.

As I often say, we can provide Dmitry Rogozin with a different and slightly larger printed circuit board and control system. However, it will operate smoothly, the spacecraft will lift off and return. Spacecraft have returned in the past, and this will also be the case now. In due time, we will catch up with them and overtake them, no matter what, because we are determined to do so and because we are not hampering anyone’s work.

We are therefore steering towards co-production and a common market. Our survey shows that Belarus manufactures several thousand items. The President of Russia asked us to provide Russia with these items, in order to assess local demand for them. We did not refuse to provide even one item, and we delivered foodstuffs and petroleum derivatives, although Russia is an oil power, etc. This list included refrigerators, television sets, washing machines, detergents, and all the other products that we manufacture. Thank God, all this is now in high demand in Russia.

As for funding, lending and other opportunities, Russia is a great help to us in these circumstances. You know that everything that we produce we can sell here, which means we are happy with payments in Russian rubles. We have finally started trading in rubles, including oil, gas and other commodities. We are fine with that.

We have two major products. The President of Russia mentioned fertilisers. We have potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen fertilisers. We have all of them. Trust me, it is only a matter of time. When the world begins to starve, they will realise that without fertilisers, there is no harvest. Trust me, I know something about this.

The Americans swaggered for a while but eventually, they too had to admit that Russian fertilisers must be allowed into the markets immediately. They opened a window – and yet, shipments are still blocked in ports. They will come to their senses tomorrow – or farmers will force them to. The public will soon take the matter into their own hands.

The second major commodity is petroleum products. We also discussed this issue today and agreed that we will find a solution. In fact, we did. The governments of Belarus and Russia will act on the decisions of the two presidents.

Vladimir Putin: I would like to add a couple of words here. Of course, we are interested in cooperating with hi-tech economies – everybody understands this obvious intention. But here is the problem: in the course of this cooperation, we became hooked on somebody else’s technology and hi-tech products. We stopped improving our own competencies and our own engineering schools in certain industries.

It turns out that within the system that was established and that continues to exist in the world economy, it is possible to take action and steps beyond publicly declared rules. The best example, which I have already mentioned many times, is our Irkut MC-21 aircraft. As soon as we moved forward with this hi-tech product – notably, without anybody’s help – they immediately cut us off from composite materials, for no reason. Why? To make sure that our production process was frozen and the aircraft did not enter the market before Boeing. So much for rules.

Yes, clearly challenges are inevitable. But there is a gaping window of opportunity. We will have to develop our own competencies and our own science. We will use this new base to move forward – also taking into account other countries’ achievements. Nobody can close all the doors and all the windows.

Question: Good evening.

Mr Lukashenko, much was said about Belarusian construction workers, our cosmonaut, and a new satellite today.

Leaving the cosmic sphere for more mundane topics, what issues in Belarusian-Russian relations still need special attention from the presidents?

Alexander Lukashenko: You know, all areas of our activities that have been discussed for a long time without much to show for it are now the focus of our attention and analysis. There is not a single issue that could be raised by either president, or a respective government, that would go without attention.

Indeed, not a single issue. Today, we discussed oil and gas, including pricing. Moreover, the President told me that Russia would support our oil refineries in the same way they are supported in the Russian Federation. The governments are working on this.

I was surprised to find out that the President is absolutely abreast of the situation in our common market and the groups of goods that we are currently supplying to Russia, and that Russia is selling in the common market, including in Belarus, and specific types of goods, such as machine-building etc., right down to agriculture with specific knowledge about what and where to sow…

So, we discussed these issues including the military, and it appears that whatever issue I raised (I raised more issues than he did) I received support, not just a positive reaction, but support. So, I cannot say we have any issues. There will always be challenges, but they can all be resolved, and we are working to overcome them.

Dmitry Peskov: We will take the last question today from Kommersant, please go ahead.

Question: Good afternoon.

I have a question for the President of Russia. This is not a short question, but the situation is multipronged, so the question will be multipronged as well.

Mr President, you said you updated the President of Belarus on the progress of the special operation. Could you please tell us what you think about the special operation as of today?

In this regard, one more question. What do you think about the course of the talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations? Also, in connection with this, because everything is connected with it, I have a question about the developments in Bucha and Kramatorsk. After all, clearly, most of the world has rejected the logic of Russia’s explanations for what happened there. Please, what is your logic there?

Yesterday, the Chancellor of Austria said you lived in the logic of military operations, the logic of war. Hence, there is no place for talks. Please tell us about your real logic.

Thank you.

I have a short question for the President of Belarus. The President of Russia has instructed Dmitry Rogozin to send a Belarusian cosmonaut into space. Would you like to be the one?

Thank you.

Alexander Lukashenko: Yes, I would. I used to think “big brother” could send me there and leave me there, but today I do not think that, so I would like to go into space. But I have a candidate in mind, and I will think about it.

Vladimir Putin: The special military operation is proceeding as planned. Of course, I am closely monitoring the discussion in our society and abroad. We must not keep anything from the public or keep anything secret; we must provide objective information about this combat operation.

First of all, I would like to express gratitude to begin my response by expressing my gratitude to the Russian soldiers and officers, the Russian service poersonnel for their heroic service to the Fatherland. This is exactly how they are acting. By fulfilling complicated and dangerous objectives in Donbass and Ukraine, our military personnel are protecting the interests of Russia and defending Russia.

It is with good reason that the President of Belarus has said, and I said this even before the operation, that confrontation with the forces that have been nurtured by far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine was inevitable, and that it was only a matter of time. They were preparing and biding their time, and we, as I said back then, will not allow them to do this. This is the logic behind our actions.

What is taking place in Ukraine, considering that Ukrainians are our fraternal people, something I want to stress even in these tragic circumstances, first of all, this Ukrainian nationalism originated back in the 19th century. We know that it was encouraged before World War I primarily by the Austrian General Staff. What for? The answer is the notorious logic: divide and conquer. Divide the Russian people and destroy them piecemeal.

The same method was used during World War II. We know that the Polish pogroms and Jewish pogroms were not perpetrated by Germans but by the same Waffen SS Galicia, Banderites and the other pro-Nazi bastards. They exterminated peaceful civilians: Russians, Jews and Poles.

This is a common fact. And today we can see in Ukrainian newsreels people with SS Galicia sleeve patches in the combat zone in Donbass. This means that we acted correctly and at the right time when we started this operation, or there would have been many more such people there.

As for the course of the operation as such, I always hear questions on whether it could be done quicker. It could; it depends on the intensity of the military operations but, unfortunately, this could entail more losses in one way or another. Our job is to reach all our goals while minimizing these losses. And we will be acting smoothly and calmly, according to the initial plan of the General Headquarters. I have spoken about this many times. There is no need to repeat all this at the news conference.

Actions in certain areas of Ukraine are only aimed at containing the enemy, strikes to destroy the military infrastructure and create conditions for more active operations on the territory of Donbass. Meanwhile, the goal of our entire operation, I will repeat what I said in the early hours of February 24, is to help the people living in Donbass who feel inseparably linked to Russia and who have been subjected to genocide for eight years. The only question is how…

Alexander Lukashenko: Today, this is the occupation by Ukraine, as you said.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, occupation by Ukraine as well. This is exactly what it is after their independence was recognised. This is how matters stand. The operation is going according to plan.

Now regarding our logic, it is simple. After all, during preparations for World War I and during World War II, a certain segment of the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian society especially those linked with Western ideology, was against Russia. These attempts are also being made today, in our time.

As for the people in military uniform with SS Division Galicia stripes – they are simply scum. But there are others who sympathise with them. They consider themselves nationalists rather than Nazis. However, they must also realise that the main goal of the West is not to help Ukraine. Ukraine is just a means to reaching goals that have nothing to do with the interests of the Ukrainian people. This is what the problem is, and what determines the logic of our actions in Donbass and in Ukraine as a whole.

As for Bucha… Now, listen, I often talked to my colleagues from the Western countries, up until now, and when they say “Bucha” to me, I ask them whether they have ever been to Raqqa? Did they see this Syrian city that was razed to the ground by US aviation?

Indeed, the dead bodies have been lying in the ruins for months on end decomposing. Nobody cared about them before that, and no one even noticed, just as no one remembers hundreds of dead civilians in Afghanistan, when a hundred or more civilians were killed at a wedding in one air strike. Silence. This silence was not there when they staged provocations in Syria and manufactured the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Assad government. Then it turned out that it was a fake, just like the fake in Bucha.

Mr President gave me some documents, which he mentioned in passing today, which were forwarded to the Russian Federal Security Service, about who did this and how – our colleagues have this information intercepted – what transport they used to get to that town and create the scene for staging this provocation and fake.

With regard to the negotiations, look, we reached certain agreements in Istanbul, under which security guarantees for Ukraine – and the Ukrainian side is striving to obtain very strict security guarantees for itself – will not apply to Crimea, Sevastopol and Donbass.

Then, as you know, we made certain efforts to create a proper environment for continuing the negotiating process. In return, we saw the provocation in Bucha and, most importantly, the Ukrainian side walked away from the Istanbul agreements. Now, security requirements have become a separate issue, and regulating our relations over Crimea, Sevastopol and Donbass will be taken out of the scope of these agreements. That is, they have returned to a dead-end for themselves and for all of us.

I was told that the Ukrainian side made some changes again last night. I am not aware of what these changes are. But this kind of inconsistency regarding fundamental issues creates certain difficulties on the negotiating track if we want to reach final agreements that are acceptable to everyone. And until this happens, the military operation will continue until it is completed and the goals that were set at the beginning of this operation are fulfilled.

As for the united West, this became obvious long ago. I believe the media can see it as well, but this is not a subject they are comfortable with.

What is behind its consolidation? It is Europe’s insulting and humiliating position with regard to its sovereign, that is, the United States. You may remember that the British press once referred to a former British prime minister – I will not name him here – as “the US President’s poodle.” Isn’t that insulting?

However, it is a fact of life that nearly all of the European countries’ leaders are in the same irritating position, but they cannot talk about it. It is unpleasant and shameful to talk about it. Today they have Russian aggression and a common enemy. It is a convenient pretext for closing ranks and serving US interests. They have aways served them, but today they can do it openly, taking decisions that benefit the United States, including in the economy, and explaining it by the need to repel an aggressor. This is what I think is happening now.

But the public in these countries, especially when people face the problems created by this political line, yes, they succumb to the general rhetoric, the anti-Russia hysteria. But I assure you that time will put everything in its place. When people see growing fuel and food prices and an unprecedented inflation rate, this will certainly influence the domestic political process.

They wanted very much for the developments to affect the internal political processes in the Russian Federation. But they always miscalculate, unable to understand that the Russian people always pull together in times of trouble. They will see this yet, and their own problems are inevitable. They want to create these problems for us, and they are doing it. Yes, it will be difficult for some sectors, but we will deal with these difficulties.

Dmitry Peskov: This will be all. Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Komsomolskaya Pravda has a question.

Remark: A very short question, if I may.

Vladimir Putin: Go ahead.

Question: Since there are two presidents here, I have a question that may not be all that serious.

About two months ago, President Lukashenko said in an injured voice that he had asked Vladimir Putin to promote him to colonel, because he was still a lieutenant colonel. “If Putin promotes me to colonel, I will promote him to general,” he said. How much of this is a joke?

Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko does not need the head of a foreign state to promote him. He is a big boss himself.

As you now, I do not have a general’s rank, but I serve my people honestly. And besides, ranks are for military personnel. As for President Lukashenko, he is on the frontline, and so he needs general’s stars more than I do. But then, this is something for him to decide.

Alexander Lukashenko: It would be great if I were a colonel as well. The truth is that he did promise to promote me but has not acted on his word. (Laughter)

Vladimir Putin: If I promised, then I will do it. Will this be all?

Dmitry Peskov: Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Alexander Lukashenko: Thank you, everyone.
 

Congratulations to Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif


Vladimir Putin congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on his election as Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

April 12, 2022
17:30

The message reads, in part:

“Our countries share friendly and constructive relations. I hope that as Prime Minister you will seek to further promote closer multifaceted cooperation between Russia and Pakistan, as well as partnership in the Afghan settlement and countering international terrorism.”

Meeting on Arctic zone development

Vladimir Putin chaired a videoconference meeting on the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.

April 13, 2022
14:35
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

Attending the meeting were: Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Security Council’s Inter-Departmental Commission for Ensuring the National Interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District and Chairman of the State Commission for Arctic Development Yury Trutnev, Presidential Aides Igor Levitin and Maxim Oreshkin, federal ministers and heads of Russian regions, Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov, Special Presidential Representative for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctica Arthur Chilingarov, and the heads of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring and Rosatom

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin:
Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today, we will discuss the development of the Arctic zone of Russia.

We have always prioritised efforts to accomplish social, economic and infrastructure tasks in this highly important region and to implement large-scale investment projects there. This remains a priority. Hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens live and work in Arctic territories, and virtually all aspects of this country’s national security, including the environmental, natural resources, military-political and technological dimensions, are concentrated here.

I want to note right away that, considering all kinds of external restrictions and sanctions pressure, we need to focus on all projects and plans linked with the Arctic. We must not shelve or delay them; on the contrary, we must expedite our work on current and long-term tasks to the greatest possible extent, in response to attempts to hamper our development.

Above all, this concerns the social sphere. We should always focus on matters that are most sensitive for people. Under the extreme conditions of the Arctic, people’s health and security are at stake, as well as the survival of entire towns and settlements.

As you may know, the actions by the unfriendly countries have disrupted a number of transport and logistical chains. Certain foreign companies are not meeting their contractual obligations in full or not at all. There is no doubt that in the existing situation this is creating certain difficulties for us. But we have all the resources and every opportunity to enable us to find alternative solutions in no time, and to strengthen our independence from external factors to an even greater extent in the long term.

This is an extremely important task.

To this end, all responsible agencies employed in the Arctic should competently and quickly reorganise their operations, primarily in order to ensure that residents of Arctic territories, rotation workers, businesses and social institutions in the region obtain an uninterrupted supply of food, medicines, fuel, building materials, and equipment. As a reminder, the start of the northern supply haul is close at hand.

The haul should proceed in a well-managed and organised manner, in accordance with the schedule and without setbacks. The Arctic should be supplied with all the necessary goods and services – and in full. This is of fundamental importance in order to guarantee price stability in populated Arctic localities. A list of ships to be employed in the haul and their sailing plan should be compiled as soon as possible. Their priority departure from ports should be ensured as should a more active use of air transport.

I suggest we think of appointing a single operator in the area of maritime delivery of cargoes under the northern supply programme, one involving icebreaker support. Generally, we should clearly identify a northern supply coordinator in the form of a relevant agency and, of course, invest it with all powers and responsibilities. Please submit concrete proposals for this later today.

Let me add the following. I urge the Government and the heads of the Arctic regions to take special responsibility for the smooth construction or renovation of social facilities – kindergartens, schools, hospitals, and rural medical and obstetric stations. Everything envisaged by our programmes and national projects should be implemented.

Another goal towards which we must work proactively is the implementation of priority investment projects. This will determine the further development of the Arctic regions and the well-being of their residents, the preservation of jobs and the creation of new jobs, as well as the fulfilment of Russia’s commitments to reliable business partners.

It is obvious that today many projects should be adjusted, that they need additional support and flexible, out-of-the-box solutions when it comes to funding, technologies and the supply of materials, construction equipment and component parts.

Today I would like to hear your reports on plans for the failsafe adoption of pivotal comprehensive initiatives, which should be done at a normal working pace to ensure the further development of business activity in the Arctic, including support for small and medium-sized businesses.

I would like to emphasise once again that several Western countries’ rejection of normal cooperation, including at least part of Russian energy resources, has hit back at millions of Europeans, has led to a real energy crisis and, incidentally, is affecting the United States. Prices are growing everywhere, and the inflation rate is soaring, which is a completely unprecedented situation for these countries. Of course, we are facing problems as well, but we also have alternatives, new options and new windows of opportunity.

As for Russian oil, gas and coal, we can increase their consumption on the domestic market, stimulate the value-added conversion of raw materials and also boost energy deliveries to the parts of the world that really need them. To achieve this goal, we will make use of all the available opportunities, including the development of transport corridors like the Northern Latitudinal Railway.

The active construction phase of this railway project is scheduled to begin as early as this year. I would like to draw the attention of the Government, RZD, Gazprom and other companies that are involved in this project to the fact that this is a direct instruction, and that is how you must regard it. We have been working on the Northern Latitudinal Railway project for a long time. It will help us ease the burden on the BAM and Trans-Siberian railways, which is a matter of fundamental importance in light of redirecting our basic exports to the east.

Yesterday, I spoke with the Amur Region Governor where trains come and go every five minutes in some places. By the way, he asked us to help with viaduct construction. We must do this, no matter what, because it is necessary to create normal living conditions in these areas. Well, this is a different subject, and we will discuss it later.

Today, I suggest that we discuss a number of other matters in detail.

The development of the Northern Sea Route is the first topic. It is necessary to create a modern port and search-and-rescue infrastructure there. We also need to develop satellite-based monitoring systems and communications networks. This also includes the implementation of our ambitious plans, in the good sense of this term, to expand icebreaker and merchant marine fleets and to build Arctic-class gas carriers.

I would like the Head of the Rosatom State Corporation to report on projects to build and design new icebreakers, as well as on the state measures that are essential in order to fully accomplish all the tasks that have been set here on time.

The second topic is to do with equipment for Arctic ports and terminals, vessels, navigation systems, as well as equipment for regional enterprises. Today, I am looking forward to hearing proposals on import substitution and the localisation of the relevant equipment manufacturing facilities in Russia.

The third area of importance is ecology and the environment. We closely link all Arctic programmes and projects with efforts to preserve biodiversity and Arctic ecosystems, as well as long-term work to address climate agenda tasks.

Thus, we need to continue implementing projects to totally eliminate accumulated damage. This also concerns scientific research programmes, primarily those aiming to facilitate a stable balance between economic development and the conservation of Arctic nature. As you know, the local ecosystem is very fragile.

Permafrost monitoring projects are the foundation for maintaining such stability. Melting permafrost layers can have an impact on Arctic ecosystems and infrastructure facilities, as well as those in adjacent territories. We have already issued an instruction to create and finance the relevant monitoring system. Today, I will ask you to report on its implementation.

I would like to emphasise that scientific data and timely, well-grounded forecasts will allow us to make the best managerial decisions, including those on developing international cooperation in the Arctic.

The Severny Polyus (North Pole) ice-resistant vessel is set to become a platform for international scientific cooperation. Working in the format of an operating drifting laboratory – and I think they plan to establish 16 laboratories there – it will provide for the broadest range of studies – from bottom deposits to the upper layers of the atmosphere. This vessel is in a league of its own, and the international scientific community is certainly interested in its launch and start of work. It is necessary to complete all tests without red tape and send this vessel on its first expedition in autumn as we planned.

I would like to emphasise that Russia is open for cooperation with all interested partners under current and future programmes and projects in the Arctic. This is confirmed by the special economic terms in place here, as well as all sorts of preferences for Russian and foreign businesses.

I believe in the current conditions we should get extra-regional states and associations more involved in cooperation in the Arctic – there will be enough work for everyone. We will offer cooperation to all those who, like Russia, are interested in the sustainable development of this unique region. We view the Arctic as a territory of dialogue, stability and constructive cooperation rather than a zone of geopolitical intrigue.

Let us get down to business.

I am giving the floor to Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Commission for Arctic Development Yury Trutnev. Mr Trutnev, please.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

I would like to summarise our discussion and outline the main objectives and instructions.

First of all, I believe it is necessary to approve the masterplan for the development of the Northern Sea Route for the period until 2035, to ensure reliable and safe cargo shipment on this essential shipping artery, the Northern Sea Route.

I would like the Government to plan for the following objectives.

First, to clearly identify the Northern Sea Route cargo traffic for the long-term perspective by specifying investment projects, shipping companies’ obligations in terms of volume – as this determines our infrastructure goals – as well as the size and composition of the icebreaker fleet. All of our colleagues have just been talking about this. It goes beyond icebreakers though. I agree with Rosatom management when they say that we should consider the types of vessels that will operate at the icebreakers’ tails. These 132 vessels that I mentioned must also be considered now. Our fleet upgrade plan also depends on these factors and the volume of shipments.

We need to clearly determine the deadlines and volumes of icebreaker and Arctic-class vessel supplies. We also need to consider the scope of associated hardware required for construction. Considering this, we need to plan modernisation and expansion of production capacities for our shipbuilding facilities. It is also necessary for us to take action with respect to maintenance, in line with the report of the Arkhangelsk Region Governor.

Second, the master plan for the development of the Northern Sea Route must include the construction and maintenance of a rescue fleet and the Emergencies Ministry’s comprehensive emergency and rescue centres. We have hardly spoken about this today but it is a very important task. I know that we mentioned a helicopter group and so on but it is not sufficient and it is a different matter. Above all, we need to consider such upgrades where essential and large-scale infrastructure and investment projects are involved.

Third, it is necessary to identify the level and sources of funding for all the measures included in the masterplan. This funding must be very specific and broken down by year.

Furthermore, as we have said, complete and timely maritime delivery of goods to the north is a task of special importance. I would like to ask you to draft a special federal law on northern delivery. It should reflect all aspects of the issue, starting from a list of goods and delivery methods to the planning, implementation and control of these measures. At the same time, it is necessary to upgrade the existing and establish new transport corridors involving the Northern Sea Route and adjacent waters.

As for implementing investment projects in the Arctic, I would like you to make active use of state support mechanisms, including the so-called Project Finance Factory. I would also ask you to review the issue of extending the benefits enjoyed by the residents of the Russian Arctic to the projects of companies that are already operating there. Obviously, there are many issues here, but these measures will allow these companies to build up their capacities and expand production. I would like to ask you to study the issue of granting these benefits.

In conclusion, I would like to tell you about the proposal related to the development of the housing and social infrastructure of the closed administrative territorial units (CATU) of the Arctic zone, notably, military settlements and bases where our military personnel live with their families and children.

I would like to ask the Government and the Defence Minister to monitor this issue and to ensure, before 2024, comprehensive modernisation of the infrastructure, energy, housing and social facilities in the Murmansk Region’s CATU – the Northern Fleet’s main base. You should continue this work in all other Arctic areas. It is necessary to focus on creating new jobs in addition to building and upgrading kindergartens, schools, medical, cultural and entertainment facilities. This very important task directly affects the wellbeing of the families of our military personnel.

Of course, in working on the draft instructions that we already have, you should pay attention to the proposals made during our current meeting which were not reflected in this document before.

Many thanks to all of you.
 
It was my birthday on the 13th so I took a little break. (Wierd. My dad died on Ash Wednesday in 2009. My birthday (13th) was on Ash Wednesday 2022. 13 years between.)

From the Kremlin.

The transcript of the meeting has not been published yet:

Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council


The President held a briefing session, via videoconference, with permanent members of the Security Council.

April 15, 2022
13:15

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

In addition to current matters, the participants held a planned discussion of Russia’s humanitarian policy concept.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

We have a very important issue on our agenda today, the discussion of the Humanitarian Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, so that our joint efforts and coordination in this area are fully in line with Russia’s national interests for the short, medium and long term.

The report will be delivered by Sergei Lavrov.

Let us proceed.

<…>

The two spreadsheets are all in Russian:

Information on incomes, expenditure and assets of the President, the Presidential Executive Office staff, and of their family members has been published


April 15, 2022
17:00

Information on incomes, expenditure, assets and liabilities of the President, the Presidential Executive Office staff appointed to their posts by the President, the Security Council staff, and of their family members is published in accordance with Presidential Executive Order No. 613 of July 8, 2013.

Greetings to the First International Festival Yury Gagarin’s Night


Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to the participants and guests of the First International Festival Yury Gagarin’s Night, currently underway in Kemerovo (Kuzbass).

April 15, 2022
16:00

The message reads, in part:

“I welcome the participants and guests of this international festival devoted to the world’s first cosmonaut Yury Gagarin. His space flight was one of the major events of the 20th century. It opened a path to the stars and largely determined Russia’s development plans for a national space programme.

Your festival, which has brought together guests from various regions of the country and abroad, is an event of great educational importance. The events in the festival’s full programme tell us the story of courage and valour of our national trailblazers and describe the results of the work of scientists, designers and engineers over many years who make truly unique discoveries, promote the development of near space and lay the groundwork for Russia’s future successes in space.

I am sure that the festival will attract the interest of the broadest audience, will help promote the achievements of Russian space science and will hold the memory of Yury Gagarin’s accomplishments and his life.”

Passover greetings


Vladimir Putin extended greetings to Russian Jews on Passover.

April 15, 2022
09:00

The message reads, in part:

“This ancient holiday, held in special reverence by followers of Judaism, dates back to important historical events, and refers believers to the centuries-old religious and cultural traditions of the Jewish people who have carefully passed them down through the generations.

With satisfaction, I would like to note the significant creative contribution of Jewish organisations to the development of our country, to strengthening the spiritual and moral foundations of our society and cultivating a fruitful inter-ethnic and inter-faith dialogue. And of course, the Russian Jewish community is actively involved in educational and charity work, the upbringing of young people and addressing topical social issues. This incredibly multidimensional and important work deserves deep and sincere recognition.”
 
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Kremlin:

Telephone conversation with President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune


Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

April 18, 2022
17:20

The presidents exchanged greetings on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries marked this year and noted that Russia and Algeria enjoy steady and consistent development of friendly ties. Vladimir Putin and Abdelmadjid Tebboune reaffirmed their intention to continue bilateral coordination within the OPEC+ format and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in the interests of ensuring stability on global energy markets.

When discussing current regional issues, the presidents expressed concern over the recent escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stressed the importance of intensifying international efforts on a Middle East settlement.

They also discussed the situation in Ukraine.

The presidents agreed to maintain contacts at various levels.

Greetings to command and staff of 64th Guards Detached Motor Rifle Brigade


Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the command and staff of the 64th Guards Detached Motor Rifle Brigade on receiving the honorary title Guards.

April 18, 2022
16:20

The message reads, in part:

“This high distinction recognises your special merits, great heroism and courage in defending your Fatherland, and in protecting Russia’s sovereignty and national interests.

Through astute and bold actions during the special military operation in Ukraine, the unit’s staff became a role model in fulfilling its military duty, valour, dedication and professionalism.

I am convinced that you, soldiers and officers – guardsmen, will continue to be faithful to your Oath, serve the Fatherland with honour, and reliably ensure the safety and peaceful life of the citizens of Russia.”

64th Detached Motor Rifle Brigade receives honourary Guards title


President Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On Conferring Honourary Title on the 64th Detached Motor Rifle Brigade.

April 18, 2022
16:15

President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order to confer the honourary title of Guards on the 64th Detached Motor Rifle Brigade that, from now on, will be called the 64th Guards Detached Motor Rifle Brigade. This Executive Order honours the heroism of the brigade’s personnel, as well as their fortitude and bravery during combat operations to defend the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts.

Meeting on economic issues


The President held a meeting on economic issues, via videoconference.

April 18, 2022
15:10

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region


Taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov, and Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina.

* * *

The President’s opening remarks

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.

Today’s agenda includes a review of the current economic situation in Russia and its main trends. We will discuss what additional measures are needed in the current environment to support Russian businesses, manufacturers, industries and, of course, people.

It is obvious that the pressure from sanctions, yet more pressure from sanctions imposed by Western countries has been the main negative factor for the economy lately. They expected еру sanctions to rapidly produce a devastating effect on Russia’s finances and economy, sow panic in the markets, bring about a collapse in the banking system and create major shortages of goods in shops.

However, we can already say in all confidence that this policy has failed in Russia. The strategy of unleashing an economic blitzkrieg has been ineffective. Moreover, the sanctions affected those who initiated them. I am referring to higher inflation and unemployment and the worsening economic outlook for the United States and European countries, as well as the declining living standards of Europeans and the depreciation of their savings.

As I have already said, Russia has been able to withstand this unprecedented pressure. The situation is getting back to normal with the ruble recovering to where it was in the first half of February, which is attributable to a robust trade surplus, which is an objective reality. In the first quarter, the current account surplus exceeded $58 billion, setting a historical high. Foreign cash is returning to the banking sector and household deposits are growing.

As for the consumer market, retail demand has stabilised after a brief period of panic buying, which does happen in situations like this. Retail chains are restocking their supplies.

Let me note that we were right to refrain from shifting market regulation into a manual, artificial mode. Instead, we gave businesses the liberty to come up with appropriate and effective solutions. These decisions enabled us to keep retail chain supplies flowing and ensure the availability of essential goods in the shops.

I would like to say a few words about the inflation rate. It is stabilising now, but nevertheless you and I know very well that consumer prices have grown considerably in Russia over the past six weeks, by 9.4 percent, which means that yearend inflation as of April 8 was 17.5 percent.

Our colleagues in the Government and the Central Bank should know that we are fully aware of what is happening: the inflation rate is very high. People have felt the impact on their family incomes, they notice how prices have risen, and we must help our citizens deal with this wave of inflation.

In this context, I would like to remind you that a decision has been taken to adjust all social benefits, pensions and wages in the public sector, in accordance with inflation. The parameters of this adjustment are to be prepared by the Government.

Of course, the main condition for a real increase in our citizens’ incomes is the creation of new and well-paid jobs, the acceleration of the economic growth rate, and the development of industry and other sectors.

Overall, the current situation is stable in this regard, as we can see from the electricity production index. This indicator is very good, which points to the dynamic development of the economy. And the number of registered unemployed is relatively low.

We certainly need to constantly monitor the situation in the economy and the employment market and, in general, we need to keep abreast of the developments, as well as take prompt decisions to ensure the stable and confident operation of our businesses and entrepreneurs. Thus far, the Government and the Central Bank have been doing this successfully.

Today I would like to ask our colleagues from the Central Bank and the Government to tell us about their vision for the development of the national economy and the measures we must take to prevent a potentially adverse situation in the economy and setbacks for Russian companies, enterprises and citizens.

Before we move on to the agenda, I would like to mention the issues that I would like to pay particular attention to today.

The first is foreign trade. The restrictions against Russia imposed by unfriendly countries have affected Russian businesses, and, of course, complicated the logistics of exports and imports and created obstacles to making settlements.

It is necessary to provide entrepreneurs with as much assistance as possible in dealing with these issues, including speeding up the transition of foreign trade to rubles and the national currencies of countries that are Russia’s reliable business partners. I want to emphasise that in the new, changed environment, we need to do this much faster. I would like you to report today on how this work is being organised and what results you plan to achieve.

Second, it is crucially important to support domestic demand and prevent it from shrinking. It is necessary to act both through the budgetary system and to provide businesses with greater access to loans. This is the responsibility of the Central Bank. The bank has already begun lowering the interest rate, which will reduce the future cost of loans in the economy.

As for the budget, I know about the discussions between the Central Bank and the Government, taking place amid a fall in lending; nevertheless, the budget definitely should actively support the economy, fill it with financial resources, maintain its liquidity. We have the capacity for that. Of course, one needs to act with caution; the Minister and I constantly discuss this.

Nevertheless, in the first quarter of this year we are witnessing a record level of budget surplus. We require additional solutions here, and they have to be implemented when the economy needs them the most. It is necessary to be cautious, and as I see it, the key condition is that the financial system remains stable at the federal and regional levels. What is our current surplus? I believe it is some 1.1 trillion rubles, and the total surplus in the regions is about 0.9 trillion rubles.

So, I suggest we discuss the budget policy in detail today.

Let us begin. Ms Nabiullina, please, you have the floor.

<…>

Telephone conversation with President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas


Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, at the latter’s initiative.

April 18, 2022
15:05

The leaders discussed issues pertaining to the settlement in the Middle East in the context of escalating tensions on the West Bank of the River Jordan and in East Jerusalem. They expressed the hope that this would not develop into a major confrontation between Palestine and Israel. The leaders emphasised the need to re-launch a direct dialogue between Palestine and Israel, in part, under the aegis of the quartet of international mediators.

Vladimir Putin informed Mahmoud Abbas about the ongoing special military operation to protect Donbass and the talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

The leaders also reviewed current bilateral issues, primarily relating to trade and the economy, and reaffirmed a mutual desire to continue developing friendly bilateral ties.

The President of Russia congratulated Mahmoud Abbas and all Palestinian people on the holy Muslim holiday Ramadan.
The leaders agreed to continue contacts.

On April 19, Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan


On April 19, Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who will arrive in Russia on an official visit.

Announcement, April 19, 2022

The discussion is to cover current issues pertaining to the further development of Russian-Armenian relations of strategic partnership and alliance. The two leaders will also consider the implementation of the agreements on Nagorno-Karabakh, reached by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020, and on January 11 and November 26, 2021, including measures to restore economic and transport ties in the region.

Greetings on 100th anniversary of Football Club Spartak


Vladimir Putin has sent congratulations to the management, staff and numerous fans of Football Club Spartak on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

April 18, 2022
10:20

The message reads, in part:

“The history of one of Russia’s most famous and highly awarded clubs is inseparably linked with the development of football, the growth of its popularity, and the emergence of a mass physical education movement in this country. Spartak’s annals boast numerous brilliant victories and records. These outstanding achievements are our common pride and national asset.

Importantly, the present generation of Spartak fans feels immense respect for the FC’s famed veterans – coaches, players, and organisers – who established the wonderful traditions of their very own club and consolidated its prestige in the sports arena. Their careers, professionalism and commitment to their chosen cause are a firm foundation for bringing up new football stars and a symbol of triumphant, unforgettable victories for all those who share the joy of success and bitterness of defeat with their beloved team and remain faithful to it in any situation.”

Telephone conversation with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud


Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, at the initiative of the Saudi side.

April 16, 2022
13:50

The leaders discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation, including in trade and the economy, and expressed their commitment to further developing mutually beneficial ties between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

They spoke highly of the joint work in the OPEC Plus format aimed at ensuring the stability of the global oil market.

The leaders also exchanged opinions on some topics on the international agenda, including the situation around Ukraine and Yemen settlement.

Vladimir Putin congratulated the leaders and people of Saudi Arabia on the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

It was agreed to maintain contact at different levels.

Law on settlements in rubles for services rendered at LNG offshore transhipment complexes in Russia’s Arctic zone


Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Amendments to Article 2 of Federal Law On Amendments to Federal Law On Sea Ports of the Russian Federation and On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation.

April 16, 2022
10:50

The Federal Law stipulates that prices (tariffs, rates) for services at sea port transhipment facilities on loading, unloading and storing liquefied natural gas produced in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, which are set for the duration of the pay-back period in building and operating such transhipment complexes, can be quoted in foreign currencies on condition that the settlements for the respective services are made in Russian rubles.

Law on support of customers and participants in government procurement under sanctions pressure


The President signed Federal Law On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation.

April 16, 2022
10:45

The Law introduces amendments to legislation to support customers and participants in the government procurement under sanctions pressure.

The Law aims to mitigate the repercussions of restrictive measures towards Russia by unfriendly foreign states and to render support to the customers and participants of procurement orders for government and municipal needs as well as procurement by state corporations, state companies and a number of other legal entities in the current economic situation. The changes involve, in particular, payment due dates for goods and services; the procedure of concluding contracts; posting procurement information in the closed part of the unified procurement information system which ensures the confidentiality of such information.

In addition, some amendments are introduced to Federal Law On the Contract System in the Procurement of Goods, Works and Services for State and Municipal Needs. Thus, the use of foreign currency is banned in determining and validating the contract price concluded with a single provider except for the cases such prices and valuations are determined by the customer operating on the territory of a foreign country.

Also, the Law expands the list of customers who are entitled to make purchases using closed competitive methods of identifying suppliers. The Government of the Russian Federation has the right to inlcude in this list those customers againt whom political or economic sanctions were imposed and/or restrictive measures were applied.

Introducing civil liability for publicly equating the role of the USSR to Germany in World War II


Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation.

April 16, 2022
10:40

The Federal Law introduces civil liability for violating the ban established by the federal law on publicly equating the objectives, decisions and actions of the USSR leaders, command and servicemen to the objectives, decisions and actions of leaders, command and servicemen of Nazi Germany and the European countries of the Axis during World War II, as well as denying the decisive role of the Soviet people in the defeat of Nazi Germany and the humanitarian mission of the USSR during the liberation of the European countries.

Agreement on social security between Russia and Uruguay


Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Ratification of the Agreement on Social Security between the Russian Federation and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

April 16, 2022
10:00

The Agreement was signed in Moscow on September 22, 2021.

The Agreement is aimed at settling relations of the Russian Federation and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in the area of social security. To this effect, the provisions of the Agreement determine the list of pensions, allowances and other payments as well as establishes a list of persons covered by respective provisions of the Agreement.

Protocol on amendments to Agreement on CSTO peacekeeping activities


The President signed Federal Law On Ratification of the Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement on Peacekeeping Activities of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation dated October 6, 2007.

April 16, 2022
09:55

The Protocol was signed in Dushanbe on September 16, 2021.

The Protocol introduces the notion of the “coordinating state” and stipulates that collective peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation are formed under the auspices of that state to be used in UN operation on peacekeeping.
 
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