From the Kremlin

[Cosmos]

en.kremlin.ru seems to be working again. The latest news are:

Meeting with permanent members of Security Council​

Vladimir Putin held a meeting, via videoconference, with permanent members of the Security Council.

March 11, 2022
11:15
The Kremlin, Moscow

Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council (held via videoconference).
Taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chair 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, 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: Good afternoon, colleagues.

We have an issue on our agenda that is not connected with the current events. But first of all, I would like to ask our colleagues attending this meeting if they need to exchange any information on the current events.

Mr Shoigu, please.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu: Mr President,

We are proceeding as planned, as we have been reporting to you every day this week.

I would like to suggest three issues for discussion and to ask for your approval.

Vladimir Putin: Go ahead, please.

Sergei Shoigu: We are receiving a huge number of requests from all manner of volunteers from different countries, who would like to come to the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics to take part in the liberation movement, as they say. The largest number of requests, over 16,000, has come from the Middle East. We believe that we should grant these requests, especially since the matter does not concern money but a genuine desire of these people. We know many of them; they helped us fight ISIS in the most difficult period, during the past 10 years. This is the first point.

The second, Mr President. In light of the uncontrollable arms deliveries to Ukraine from all parties (it appears that nobody is looking where and how much of these weapons are being delivered and who they are being issued to), as we have pointed out many times, we suggest turning the air defence systems, for example, man-portable SAMs, and anti-tank missile systems over to the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics to build up the combat ability of their militia. In addition, we have seized a large number of Ukrainian weapons, such as tanks, armoured vehicles, all types of small arms, and artillery systems. There are also many Javelins and Stingers. We suggest transferring them to the Lugansk and Donetsk militias as well, so that they can defend their republics more effectively.

Finally, the third and more serious issue, Mr President, and I am asking for your approval. The General Staff has analysed all the measures taken by the West to beef up their forces near Russia’s western borders. New units are arriving every day, and they are deploying them at a time when absolutely nothing threatens them. Nevertheless, we believe that they want to take advantage of this situation and to saturate the area along the border with forces and resources to the maximum extent, and they will undoubtedly want to preserve this situation for a long time.

Consequently, the General Staff is drafting and has nearly completed a plan for reinforcing Russia’s western borders, including, naturally, with those new modern systems and the deployment of military units to defend our western borders.

We are waiting for your instruction, so that we can report on our proposals at the next Security Council meeting or in any other format, for their subsequent approval.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: All right, thank you very much.

Regarding the mobilisation of mercenaries from all over the world and sending them to Ukraine. We can see that Ukraine’s Western sponsors and the Ukrainian regime are not concealing this fact. They are doing this openly and neglecting norms of international law. So, if you see that some volunteers would like to come and help the people in Donbass, especially without pay, then we should meet them halfway and help them relocate to the war zone. This is the first thing.

The second, regarding weapons deliveries, especially those of Western weapons that have been seized by the Russian Army. I, of course, support the decision to hand them over to the military units in the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics. Please do this. I am ready to issue any resolution that may be necessary at my end.

The third matter deals with the reinforcement of the Russian Federation’s western borders in view of the NATO countries’ actions in this area and in response to what they are doing. This calls for a separate discussion. I would like to ask you to prepare a report on the issue separately. We will make the decision following its discussion in the near future.

Thank you.

Let us proceed to the current item on the agenda.

<…>

Meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko​

Vladimir Putin met with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin.

March 11, 2022
14:20
The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko,

Thank you for coming. We meet regularly, exchange information by telephone, and adjust our actions.

First of all, before we get down to our agenda, I would like to congratulate you on the successful referendum on amending your country’s constitution. I know that the turnout was high, and popular support across Belarus very solid.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: More than at the presidential elections, by the way, by 1.5 percent.

Vladimir Putin: Good. I believe the political process that you initiated, the dialogue that you have with your people is extremely important for the situation to remain sustainable and stable. This kind of situation, I mean stability and sustainability, is essential for economic development.

In this regard, I would like to note that last year, our mutual trade increased by more than a third, more than 34 percent, and now that the annual results are being summed up, this is becoming quite obvious.

The overall developments are positive. Of course, there are also problems caused by the current events, the restrictions and sanctions we all know of, and so on. But, as you and I have previously said, we have seen this before – attempts to limit our development, to contain it. Now they are being made on a larger scale; this much is obvious, of course. I am sure that we will get through the difficult period and, in fact, will gain more competencies, find more ways to feel independent and self-sufficient, and will ultimately benefit, as it happened in the previous years.

I will certainly update you on Ukrainian developments and, above all, the progress of the negotiations, which are now being held almost on a daily basis. There are certain positive shifts there, as our negotiators have reported to me. I will tell you about all this in greater detail.

Alexander Lukashenko: Mr Putin, indeed, you and I communicate closely at all times. We had a premonition of hard times. I have told you over the phone more than once: the Russian Federation, and even more so Belarus, is always under sanctions, which have become more extensive today. However, we are already used to this, pardon my language, beastly Western behaviour. Why beastly? Because it is illegitimate, as they are fond of saying, and runs counter to international agreements and treaties, which they and we have joined, in part. So, once again, the third time round: this is just disgraceful from my point of view. I have already been through this, and you have had enough of it as well.

Here is my point. As I walked up to your office, the journalists hollered from a distance: “Will we survive the sanctions or not?” Listen, this is not the right approach to this matter. Today, sanctions represent an opportunity for us. I am a Soviet person, and you hail from the Soviet period as well, and you are well aware that we were always under sanctions, but we lived and moved forward notwithstanding. It is just that due to the current circumstances, which are not even related to sanctions, not enough time has passed, and our people are concerned. It is a good thing that people tend to realise over time what is really going on. It was not us who attacked them, not us, the armed forces of Ukraine started shooting when you and I were at your place two days before that.

Vladimir Putin: Unfortunately.

Alexander Lukashenko: Yes, you and I were in a helicopter, as [we] received updates. They were the ones to start this whole thing. I will now show you the location, which they planned to use as a base to attack Belarus. If there had not been a preventive strike on the positions – four positions – six hours before the operation – I will show you the map that I brought with me – they would have attacked the troops of Belarus and Russia, which were conducting exercises. So, we did not unleash this war, our conscience is clear.

It is good that they started it. Biological weapons, the largest nuclear power plants – they were ready to blow that all up. We are witnessing what is going on in Chernobyl, you asked me to supply electricity …

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Alexander Lukashenko: …but they do not need it, do you see? They just do not need it. They do not care about what is happening there, and we used force to supply electricity to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as promised.

Vladimir Putin: I am aware of that, thank you.

Alexander Lukashenko: These are their goals. But people are gradually beginning to understand what is what and who is right. Trust me, had we not done this 24 hours in advance, we would have drained this cup to the dregs with enormous losses several days later.

I will say it again: they were going to strike not only at Donbass but had also prepared their positions for a strike against Belarus. And today – as I said yesterday – these foreign mercenaries are walking along the Belarus border to the Chernobyl plant. There are three points here. They want to cut off the routes of moving Russian troops and stab them in the back, as I said. This is the first point. Secondly, they want to attack the positions of the troops that remained in Belarus after their joint exercises with Russia. And they still hope to draw us directly into this slaughter to make us leave the western section unprotected. They are not that simple. We still have to figure out what they want to do in Chernobyl.

So, we have no need to justify ourselves before anyone.

Vladimir Putin: No one is justifying themselves.

Alexander Lukashenko: You – yes. I see that some of our or your people tend to say that they did something wrong. They would have drained more from this cup than in the middle of the last century when the fascists were moving towards us.

So, this is a time of opportunity. If we find our bearings, believe me, in six months or by the end of the year people will forget this happened, in terms of the economy. And we should not say “we will survive the sanctions” or “we will not survive the sanctions.” Look, we have survived them so many times. We must develop our economy. We can do without them. We have everything we need for normal life and work.

I have a suggestion. We have always helped our allies. We helped the Kazakhs, and others as well. You opened your market to some, I will not mention their names because they will take offense. Well, we have to meet somehow in the CSTO and the EAEU. We must unite. Everyone says we must be together. Let us get together. And, believe me, if we add these markets to our cooperation we will forget about the sanctions in a month. So, the CSTO and the EAEU. I am making a proposal. After all, I do have the right to make a proposal…

Vladimir Putin: Of course.

Alexander Lukashenko: I think you will support me. We need to gather around the table in Moscow, sit at the negotiating table and come to terms: we sell this to you and you sell this to us, and build our common economic policy on this foundation.

This is why I came to Moscow today in a normal mood. I am confident we can do it better than we did after collapse of the USSR, and even in the USSR. This is not a situation where we should bother and get worried about some event. We simply need the time – a lot can be seen from a distance.

Vladimir Putin: You are absolutely right. The Soviet Union indeed always lived in conditions of sanctions but developed and achieved enormous success. I said yesterday: even after 1990, the sanctions imposed on the USSR were retained and then extended to the new, recent times. These are CoCom lists, restrictions on high technology. This is how it was done.

Now a massive blow is being dealt at the economy. But practice over the past few years shows that wherever the West imposed restrictions on us, we acquired new competences and restored our old skills at new technological levels. And all this is working. We have of course become stronger in this respect, you are right. This is indeed a time of opportunity when we must strengthen our technological and economic sovereignty.

This is why we are meeting today, we will talk about everything in more detail.

Thank you.

<…>

 

[Benjamin]

From the Kremlin.

Edit: You beat me to it by 4 minutes, Cosmos!

Meeting with permanent members of Security Council​

Vladimir Putin held a meeting, via videoconference, with permanent members of the Security Council.

March 11, 2022
11:15

The Kremlin, Moscow

Taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chair 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, 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: Good afternoon, colleagues.

We have an issue on our agenda that is not connected with the current events. But first of all, I would like to ask our colleagues attending this meeting if they need to exchange any information on the current events.
Mr Shoigu, please.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu: Mr President,

We are proceeding as planned, as we have been reporting to you every day this week.
I would like to suggest three issues for discussion and to ask for your approval.

Vladimir Putin: Go ahead, please.

Sergei Shoigu: We are receiving a huge number of requests from all manner of volunteers from different countries, who would like to come to the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics to take part in the liberation movement, as they say. The largest number of requests, over 16,000, has come from the Middle East. We believe that we should grant these requests, especially since the matter does not concern money but a genuine desire of these people. We know many of them; they helped us fight ISIS in the most difficult period, during the past 10 years. This is the first point.

The second, Mr President. In light of the uncontrollable arms deliveries to Ukraine from all parties (it appears that nobody is looking where and how much of these weapons are being delivered and who they are being issued to), as we have pointed out many times, we suggest turning the air defence systems, for example, man-portable SAMs, and anti-tank missile systems over to the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics to build up the combat ability of their militia. In addition, we have seized a large number of Ukrainian weapons, such as tanks, armoured vehicles, all types of small arms, and artillery systems. There are also many Javelins and Stingers. We suggest transferring them to the Lugansk and Donetsk militias as well, so that they can defend their republics more effectively.
Finally, the third and more serious issue, Mr President, and I am asking for your approval. The General Staff has analysed all the measures taken by the West to beef up their forces near Russia’s western borders. New units are arriving every day, and they are deploying them at a time when absolutely nothing threatens them. Nevertheless, we believe that they want to take advantage of this situation and to saturate the area along the border with forces and resources to the maximum extent, and they will undoubtedly want to preserve this situation for a long time.

Consequently, the General Staff is drafting and has nearly completed a plan for reinforcing Russia’s western borders, including, naturally, with those new modern systems and the deployment of military units to defend our western borders.
We are waiting for your instruction, so that we can report on our proposals at the next Security Council meeting or in any other format, for their subsequent approval.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: All right, thank you very much.

Regarding the mobilisation of mercenaries from all over the world and sending them to Ukraine. We can see that Ukraine’s Western sponsors and the Ukrainian regime are not concealing this fact. They are doing this openly and neglecting norms of international law. So, if you see that some volunteers would like to come and help the people in Donbass, especially without pay, then we should meet them halfway and help them relocate to the war zone. This is the first thing.

The second, regarding weapons deliveries, especially those of Western weapons that have been seized by the Russian Army. I, of course, support the decision to hand them over to the military units in the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics. Please do this. I am ready to issue any resolution that may be necessary at my end.

The third matter deals with the reinforcement of the Russian Federation’s western borders in view of the NATO countries’ actions in this area and in response to what they are doing. This calls for a separate discussion. I would like to ask you to prepare a report on the issue separately. We will make the decision following its discussion in the near future.

Thank you.

Let us proceed to the current item on the agenda.

<…>

Congratulations to Katalin Novak, President-elect of Hungary​

Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to Katalin Novak on her election as President of Hungary.

March 11, 2022
13:40

The message reads, in part:
“I expect your activity as President will contribute to the further development of mutually beneficial Russian-Hungarian ties.”

Meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko​

Vladimir Putin met with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin.

March 11, 2022
14:20

The Kremlin, Moscow


President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Lukashenko,

Thank you for coming. We meet regularly, exchange information by telephone, and adjust our actions.

First of all, before we get down to our agenda, I would like to congratulate you on the successful referendum on amending your country’s constitution. I know that the turnout was high, and popular support across Belarus very solid.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko: More than at the presidential elections, by the way, by 1.5 percent.

Vladimir Putin: Good. I believe the political process that you initiated, the dialogue that you have with your people is extremely important for the situation to remain sustainable and stable. This kind of situation, I mean stability and sustainability, is essential for economic development.

In this regard, I would like to note that last year, our mutual trade increased by more than a third, more than 34 percent, and now that the annual results are being summed up, this is becoming quite obvious.

The overall developments are positive. Of course, there are also problems caused by the current events, the restrictions and sanctions we all know of, and so on. But, as you and I have previously said, we have seen this before – attempts to limit our development, to contain it. Now they are being made on a larger scale; this much is obvious, of course. I am sure that we will get through the difficult period and, in fact, will gain more competencies, find more ways to feel independent and self-sufficient, and will ultimately benefit, as it happened in the previous years.

I will certainly update you on Ukrainian developments and, above all, the progress of the negotiations, which are now being held almost on a daily basis. There are certain positive shifts there, as our negotiators have reported to me. I will tell you about all this in greater detail.

Alexander Lukashenko: Mr Putin, indeed, you and I communicate closely at all times. We had a premonition of hard times. I have told you over the phone more than once: the Russian Federation, and even more so Belarus, is always under sanctions, which have become more extensive today. However, we are already used to this, pardon my language, beastly Western behaviour. Why beastly? Because it is illegitimate, as they are fond of saying, and runs counter to international agreements and treaties, which they and we have joined, in part. So, once again, the third time round: this is just disgraceful from my point of view. I have already been through this, and you have had enough of it as well.

Here is my point. As I walked up to your office, the journalists hollered from a distance: “Will we survive the sanctions or not?” Listen, this is not the right approach to this matter. Today, sanctions represent an opportunity for us. I am a Soviet person, and you hail from the Soviet period as well, and you are well aware that we were always under sanctions, but we lived and moved forward notwithstanding. It is just that due to the current circumstances, which are not even related to sanctions, not enough time has passed, and our people are concerned. It is a good thing that people tend to realise over time what is really going on. It was not us who attacked them, not us, the armed forces of Ukraine started shooting when you and I were at your place two days before that.

Vladimir Putin: Unfortunately.

Alexander Lukashenko: Yes, you and I were in a helicopter, as [we] received updates. They were the ones to start this whole thing. I will now show you the location, which they planned to use as a base to attack Belarus. If there had not been a preventive strike on the positions – four positions – six hours before the operation – I will show you the map that I brought with me – they would have attacked the troops of Belarus and Russia, which were conducting exercises. So, we did not unleash this war, our conscience is clear.

It is good that they started it. Biological weapons, the largest nuclear power plants – they were ready to blow that all up. We are witnessing what is going on in Chernobyl, you asked me to supply electricity …

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

Alexander Lukashenko: …but they do not need it, do you see? They just do not need it. They do not care about what is happening there, and we used force to supply electricity to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as promised.

Vladimir Putin: I am aware of that, thank you.

Alexander Lukashenko: These are their goals. But people are gradually beginning to understand what is what and who is right. Trust me, had we not done this 24 hours in advance, we would have drained this cup to the dregs with enormous losses several days later.

I will say it again: they were going to strike not only at Donbass but had also prepared their positions for a strike against Belarus. And today – as I said yesterday – these foreign mercenaries are walking along the Belarus border to the Chernobyl plant. There are three points here. They want to cut off the routes of moving Russian troops and stab them in the back, as I said. This is the first point.

Secondly, they want to attack the positions of the troops that remained in Belarus after their joint exercises with Russia. And they still hope to draw us directly into this slaughter to make us leave the western section unprotected. They are not that simple. We still have to figure out what they want to do in Chernobyl.

So, we have no need to justify ourselves before anyone.

Vladimir Putin: No one is justifying themselves.

Alexander Lukashenko: You – yes. I see that some of our or your people tend to say that they did something wrong. They would have drained more from this cup than in the middle of the last century when the fascists were moving towards us.

So, this is a time of opportunity. If we find our bearings, believe me, in six months or by the end of the year people will forget this happened, in terms of the economy. And we should not say “we will survive the sanctions” or “we will not survive the sanctions.”

Look, we have survived them so many times. We must develop our economy. We can do without them. We have everything we need for normal life and work.

I have a suggestion. We have always helped our allies. We helped the Kazakhs, and others as well. You opened your market to some, I will not mention their names because they will take offense. Well, we have to meet somehow in the CSTO and the EAEU. We must unite. Everyone says we must be together. Let us get together. And, believe me, if we add these markets to our cooperation we will forget about the sanctions in a month. So, the CSTO and the EAEU. I am making a proposal. After all, I do have the right to make a proposal…

Vladimir Putin: Of course.

Alexander Lukashenko: I think you will support me. We need to gather around the table in Moscow, sit at the negotiating table and come to terms: we sell this to you and you sell this to us, and build our common economic policy on this foundation.

This is why I came to Moscow today in a normal mood. I am confident we can do it better than we did after collapse of the USSR, and even in the USSR. This is not a situation where we should bother and get worried about some event. We simply need the time – a lot can be seen from a distance.

Vladimir Putin: You are absolutely right. The Soviet Union indeed always lived in conditions of sanctions but developed and achieved enormous success. I said yesterday: even after 1990, the sanctions imposed on the USSR were retained and then extended to the new, recent times. These are CoCom lists, restrictions on high technology. This is how it was done.

Now a massive blow is being dealt at the economy. But practice over the past few years shows that wherever the West imposed restrictions on us, we acquired new competences and restored our old skills at new technological levels. And all this is working. We have of course become stronger in this respect, you are right. This is indeed a time of opportunity when we must strengthen our technological and economic sovereignty.

This is why we are meeting today, we will talk about everything in more detail.

Thank you.

<…>

 

[Benjamin]

From the Kremlin:

Telephone conversation with President of Finland Sauli Niinisto​

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinisto.

March 11, 2022
17:00

Vladimir Putin explained in detail to the President of Finland the reasons behind Russia’s special military operation to defend Donbass, as well as its goals and tasks, and informed him of the ongoing talks with representatives of Ukraine.

The presidents focused on humanitarian issues and measures aimed at ensuring the security of civilians and creating humanitarian corridors for their evacuation from the zone of hostilities.

The leaders agreed to stay in contact on Ukraine-related issues and on the bilateral agenda.

 

[Benjamin]

From the Kremlin:

Condolences to Rustam Ibragimbekov’s family and friends​

Vladimir Putin sent his condolences on the death of scriptwriter and film producer Rustam Ibragimbekov.

March 11, 2022
16:00

The message reads, in part:

“A man of a generous and multifaceted talent and tremendous creative power, Rustam Ibragimbekov created extraordinary works which left a blazing trail in the history of our multiethnic culture. He carried respect for the eternal values of humanism, for art and for the spectators throughout his entire life and work.”

The Soviet and Russian scriptwriter, film producer and writer Rustam Ibragimbekov died in Moscow on March 11 at the age of 83.

Rustam Ibragimbekov | Writer, Producer, Director

Known for: Kabusun gözleri ile, The Saint - Der Mann ohne Namen, Urga

www.imdb.com

Meeting with heads of regions as part of State Council working group on economic issues and countering coronavirus spread​

March 11, 2022
12:00

Moscow

As part of the of the State Council working group on economic issues and on countering the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the head of the working group, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, in conjunction with State Council Secretary and Presidential Aide Igor Levitin, held a meeting with top officials from a number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

The working group was created under a presidential instruction of March 5, 2022.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, Plenipotentiary Presidential Envoy to the Urals Federal District Vladimir Yakushev, the heads of the republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, the heads of Krasnodar and Krasnoyarsk territories and Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov, Samara, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Chelyabinsk regions, as well as St Petersburg.

Meeting participants discussed ways to protect the economy and the social sphere in the regions of the Russian Federation against sanction pressures.

Sergei Sobyanin informed the participants of the ongoing activities of the Government Commission on Enhancing the National Economy’s Resilience under the Sanctions, where he is in charge of coordinating operational decisions at the regional level.
Marat Khusnullin noted that the Government had adopted key decisions to support the construction industry, including support for mortgage lending and cutting administrative procedures in the construction industry.

The heads of the regions discussed their current socioeconomic situations. The participants presented proposals regarding core measures aimed at ensuring the sustainability of socioeconomic support in the regions, which were submitted to the working group by the regions of the Russian Federation.

The proposals developed by the participants will be taken into account when drawing up a plan of priority actions to ensure the sustainable development of the regions amid external sanctions pressures.

Meeting of State Council Commission on Social Policy​

Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin chaired a meeting of the State Council Commission on Social Policy.

March 11, 2022
13:30

Moscow

The meeting was attended by Minister of Labour and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov, governors of Kaluga, Kirov and Kurgan regions, Adviser to the President Alexandra Levitskaya, heads of specialised federal and regional executive bodies, sectoral business associations, and scientific and expert organisations.

Chairman of the State Council Commission on Social Policy and Novgorod Region Governor Andrei Nikitin spoke on the progress of preparations for the State Council Presidium meeting, which will focus on the most pressing employment issues.

Minister of Labour and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov told the participants about the measures to support the population and national labour market taken by the Government. Heads of the regions put forward their relevant proposals.

The participants considered additional measures to organise retraining, advanced training and occupational retraining for job seekers.

They also discussed extending the labour mobility programme to all regions for enterprises engaged in import-substituting technologies; expanding social support measures such as the social contract; and promoting farming, including by allocating state-owned (municipally-owned) lands on preferential terms.

Telephone conversation with Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron​

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz and President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.

March 12, 2022
16:35

In response to the issues raised by the leaders of France and Germany regarding the humanitarian situation on the territory of the military operation to protect Donbass, Vladimir Putin informed them of the real situation on the ground. In particular, the Russian leader cited multiple facts of gross violations of the international humanitarian law by the Ukrainian army and police: extrajudicial killings of dissenters, hostage taking and the use of civilians as human shields, deployment of heavy weaponry in residential areas, in proximity to hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and so on. At the same time, nationalist battalions regularly sabotage rescue operations and threaten civilians when they attempt to evacuate. Vladimir Putin urged Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz to influence Kiev authorities so as to stop such criminal acts.

The President of Russia gave a detailed account of the series of talks held via videoconference by Russian and Ukrainian representatives over the past days. In this connection the three countries’ leaders reviewed some issues pertaining to the agreements being worked out concerning the implementation of the earlier Russian demands.

The leaders agreed to continue their contacts on Ukrainian issues.

 

[Benjamin]

Kremlin:

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel​

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel.

March 14, 2022
13:55

At the request of Xavier Bettel, Vladimir Putin updated him on the Russian special military operation being carried out to protect Donbass, explained its goals and tasks, and told his counterpart about the situation at the Russian-Ukrainian talks.
It was agreed to maintain contacts.

Working meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko​

Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko.

March 14, 2022
15:30

The Kremlin, Moscow

Dmitry Grigorenko informed the President about the progress made in fulfilling his instructions concerning the reform of the oversight system in the Russian Federation. The discussion focused on ways to improve the mechanism of the ‘regulatory guillotine’, mandatory pre-trial appeal, standardisation of rules for introducing mandatory requirements for business, and the introduction of a risk-based approach.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.

Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko: Mr President, the Government of the Russian Federation is now reforming the oversight system in accordance with your instructions. In 2019, we launched the ‘regulatory guillotine’ mechanism, essentially aimed at conducting an inventory and updating all existing mandatory requirements, cancelling redundant or irrelevant ones, and re-approving effective ones.

I report that we have completed this project. As a result of this work, we have conducted an inventory of all existing mandatory requirements. Out of just over 318,000 requirements, slightly more than 143,000 were cancelled as irrelevant, redundant, no longer necessary or viable. The remaining requirements have been updated and reapproved.

It is important to note here that the Government was not carrying out this project alone, but with the participation of business representatives. We have set up 43 industry-specific groups, with two-thirds of the representatives of business communities and business associations, and in fact, those groups did most of the work.

A little less than a year ago, when you visited us at the Coordination Centre, you noted and emphasised that the Government was to take account of feedback from business associations and individuals in its decision-making. As we took inventory and updated mandatory requirements, we certainly paid heed to the feedback from citizens and business associations, which the Coordination Centre helped collect.

To be continued.

 

[Benjamin]

Kremlin:

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett​

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett at the Israeli side’s initiative.

March 14, 2022
20:25

The leaders continued the exchange of views on the special operation to defend the republics in Donbass. In this context, Vladimir Putin pointed out the latest barbarous action of the Ukrainian military – today’s missile attack at Donetsk central part. The missile had a cluster munition, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties.

Naftali Bennett told the President of Russia about his recent contacts on Ukrainian issues with the leaders of a number of states. In turn, Vladimir Putin told Naftali Bennett about his assessments of the negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives, which are being held these days via videoconference.

The leaders agreed to maintain contact.

 

[Benjamin]

From the Kremlin (emphases mine):

Greetings on opening of International Exhibition of Advanced Technology for Personal, Public and State Security​

Vladimir Putin sent greetings to participants, organisers and guests of the first International Exhibition of Advanced Technology for Personal, Public and State Security, which has opened in St Petersburg.

March 17, 2022
11:00

The message reads, in part:

“This large-scale exhibition focuses on modern weapons, communication devices and special equipment, and promising communications and technological developments, which are all outstanding examples of Russian scientific and engineering achievements. These developments convincingly demonstrate the advanced technology available to our law enforcement agencies and security services, their strong capabilities when it comes to protecting the rights and freedoms of our citizens and interests of the state and the public amid global challenges. On the sidelines of the exhibition, participants will be able to discuss topical professional problems and share accumulated experience.

I am certain that the exhibition will attract close attention of experts and specialists, will serve the development of Russian companies involved in the industry, and will strengthen international scientific and technical cooperation.”

Meeting on socioeconomic development of Crimea and Sevastopol​

The President conducted a meeting on the socioeconomic development of Crimea and Sevastopol, via videoconference.

March 17, 2022
16:15

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

The meeting was attended by Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Irek Fayzullin, Head of the Republic of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov, Governor of the Federal City of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev and Chair of Promsvyazbank Petr Fradkov.


* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues. Hello.

We are meeting on the eve of the Day of Crimea’s Reunification with Russia.

We all remember that at that time, in the difficult weeks of February-March 2014, residents of Crimea and Sevastopol displayed courage and patriotism and formed a wall against the neo-Nazis and radicals, those who staged a coup d’etat in Kiev. People in Crimea and Sevastopol did not falter. They united and won, making their free conscientious choice – to be together with Russia.

The years since then have convincingly proved how correct and timely this choice was. It is enough to look at what is happening in Donbass today and everything becomes immediately clear.

However, today I suggest discussing the work on strengthening the socioeconomic potential of Crimea and Sevastopol and planning the tasks on which we should focus in the near future and in the long term.

I would like to note that a special programme on the socioeconomic development of the peninsula and a number of other undertakings have been consistently carried out since 2015. A total of 1,375 billion rubles have been set aside for the implementation of this programme over 11 years, until 2025. More than a thousand facilities must be built with these funds. As of today, almost half of them are ready and are already in operation for the benefit of the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol.

Our priority was to modernise and develop the transport infrastructure. A modern airport, Simferopol, has been built, the Crimea Bridge is open to motor and rail traffic, and construction work is at its final stage on Tavrida, the newest motorway.

The electric power supply to the region has become more reliable and stable, this primarily owing to the commissioning of new generating capacities, the creation of a power bridge, and the replacement of the outmoded regional electric power networks. This has made it possible to eliminate such a serious problem as protracted power outages in residential districts and at production facilities.

Step by step, we are solving the problem of providing the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol with clean, I repeat, clean, high-quality water. Immediately after 2014, we started drilling artesian wells and transferring water from reservoirs in the peninsula’s highlands to Simferopol and Kerch. Part of the water supply networks has been overhauled, which made it possible to reduce losses in the housing and utilities sector. This was a big problem, everyone is well aware, because nothing in this sense had been done there for decades. Additional water intake facilities have been built. In all the big cities of Crimea, the existing purification stations are being upgraded and new ones are being built. This is also a huge problem that will require a systemic solution and, regrettably, certain time and additional investment.

At the same time, we will have to do a lot more to expand the transport, energy and other infrastructures. In this connection, I suggest that we extend the Socioeconomic Development of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol state programme until 2027. Its deadline was 2025, but now we need to extend it until 2027 and possibly further on until 2030, envisaging the required co-funding from the federal budget.

In this context, I would like to emphasise that the work on all infrastructure projects – where possible – should, of course, be accelerated.

Thus, it is necessary to promptly finish the construction of the final, eighth stage of the Tavrida motorway. I have used this road, and it is amazing. The last, eighth stage is more than halfway done; it is an important, key part of the road. When it opens, new convenient and modernised access roads to Sevastopol will appear. Please report today on available reserves to speed up this crucial project.

Naturally, it is important to continue the programme to create a comfortable living environment in Crimea and Sevastopol. The total volume of funding this year and for the next years must not be reduced.

I am referring to the improvement of courtyards, squares, parks and beaches. You know how this work is going on across Russia; these are very popular measures. And, of course, they are as important for Crimea and Sevastopol as they are for all of Russia. When doing this work, it is necessary to use the best Russian and foreign projects and practices, adopt new architectural solutions, and consider the residents’ proposals.

It is also necessary to step up major repair and maintenance work on regional and local roads. Mr Khusnullin reported today that overall, this work is underway in Crimea, and the allocated necessary resources – that is, there are even more resources needed – but the allocated resources are being used much more efficiently than in the previous years. A modern, convenient road network provides new opportunities for expanding economic ties, developing tourism, and improving transport logistics.

Other infrastructure tasks require urgent attention, including the modernisation of housing and utility facilities and structures, such as the reconstruction of dilapidated and obsolete water and sewage treatment networks. There is much work ahead, and the peninsula’s environmental wellbeing directly depends on it.

Modern infrastructure is the key to the development of tourism, the agro-industrial sector, and other traditional and new economic sectors on the peninsula. It is necessary to make the most of these opportunities and to support business initiatives.

Please report back today on action plans to stimulate additional investment, to strengthen the position of small and medium-sized businesses, and to create high-tech jobs.

I would like to note that indeed, Western sanctions on the banking sector and on a number of goods, and so forth, do have an impact on the economic development of the peninsula. A new package of sanctions followed the start of the military operation in Ukraine.

I said at the meeting on socioeconomic support for the regions yesterday that the restrictions imposed against Russia certainly create many problems. But, along with creating problems, they also open up new opportunities for us.

In particular, major Russian companies now have the best conditions in Crimea. Frankly speaking, they used to be afraid of some kind of sanctions, but now they have nothing to fear. They can safely develop business in the region, including banks by the way, they can start up their activities there, finding and developing new market niches. This applies to the Crimean Peninsula and specifically to the city of Sevastopol.

We will certainly support such business activity, including through the deployment of infrastructure for banking and financial services.

In this regard, one of our leading banking institutions fully owned by the state, Promsvyazbank, which actually has a presence in Crimea already, should become active in Crimea as quickly and as widely as possible. It should introduce promising banking products, lend to agricultural construction, tourism and other key industries for the region, open departments and branches, and develop its retail network there. This will indeed become a serious incentive for increasing business activity in Crimea, and will promote cooperation with partners from other regions of the Russian Federation.

Let us discuss all these matters and hear the reports.

<…>

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.

March 17, 2022
17:35

Issues on the bilateral agenda were discussed in detail, and the recent talks between the foreign ministers in Moscow and Antalya were characterised as positive. The two leaders reaffirmed their intention to continue developing mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, including the implementation of strategic projects in the energy sector.

Various aspects of developments related to the special military operation to protect Donbass were discussed. Vladimir Putin also informed his counterpart about the talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

Special focus during the conversation was made on humanitarian issues. Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed gratitude for facilitating the evacuation of Turkish citizens from Ukraine and the safe exit of Turkish cargo ships from Azov Sea ports.

The two leaders agreed to maintain contacts at various levels.

Greetings to organisers and participants in Memory Garden Campaign​

Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the organisers and participants in the Memory Garden National and International Campaign.

March 18, 2022
10:00

The message reads, in part:

“I believe the project launched today in Sevastopol to be an important and relevant initiative designed to bring together people from across the country who share enduring patriotic, spiritual and moral values and are committed to preserving the memory of our dramatic past and of the millions of people who perished in the Great Patriotic War.

It is wonderful that every year more and more people join this campaign by planting blossoming gardens in Russian cities and towns. After all, we pass on from one generation to another, from parent to child, and on to our grandchildren the sincere and deep respect we owe to the immortal feat accomplished by our people and its heroes who stood up for the freedom and independence of their homeland. I am certain that this momentum will carry on into the future.”

First held in 2020, the Memory Garden International Campaign seeks to perpetuate the memory of all those who died during the Great Patriotic War by planting 27 million trees in memory of the 27 million victims.

In the first two years, more than 2 million people from all 85 regions of Russia took part in the campaign. Over 50 countries across the world supported this major initiative.

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 at the latter's initiative.

March 18, 2022
12:25

The discussion of developments around Ukraine continued. The President of Russia noted that the Ukrainian security forces shelled residential areas of Donetsk and Makeyevka, which resulted in heavy casualties. These war crimes were ignored in the West.

It was noted that the Russian Armed Forces were doing everything possible to preserve the lives of civilians including by organising safe corridors for the population to leave cities in the war zone. Thus, on March 17, as a result of the humanitarian operation in Mariupol, about 43,000 people were evacuated.

Vladimir Putin also provided an assessment of the talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives held via videoconference. It was noted that Kiev was seeking every opportunity to try to prolong the negotiation process by making new unrealistic proposals. Nevertheless the Russian side is ready to continue searching for ways out in the spirit of its well-known principled approaches.

Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council​

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

March 18, 2022
13:50

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

The discussion focused on current international developments and the ongoing special operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine.

The President informed permanent members of the Security Council on the details of his numerous telephone conversations with international colleagues.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, 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.

 

[Benjamin]

From the Kremlin:

Executive Order on additional provisional measures to ensure financial stability in foreign exchange regulation​

The President signed Executive Order On Additional Provisional Economic Measures to Ensure Financial Stability of the Russian Federation In Foreign Exchange Regulation.

March 18, 2022
15:40

The Executive Order supplements measures set forth in Presidential Executive Order No. 79 of February 28, 2022, On Imposing Special Economic Measures in Connection with the Hostile Actions of the United States in League with Other Foreign States and International Organisations, Executive Order No. 81 of March 1, 2022, On Additional Temporary Economic Measures to Ensure Russia’s Financial Stability, and Executive Order No. 95 of March 5, 2022, On Temporary Procedure for Meeting Loan Obligations to Certain Foreign Creditors.

The President ordered that the Russian Federation Central Bank Board of Directors be authorised to set the maximum transaction amount that the residents can use for making early and advance payments, as well as transferring funds to foreign legal entities and non-resident individuals under contracts as listed by type by the Central Bank Board of Directors, as well as for non-resident legal entities for buying foreign currency on the Russian Federation foreign exchange market.

Various restrictions concern foreign non-resident legal entities registered in countries which have been undertaking hostile actions towards the Russian Federation, Russian legal entities or individuals.

The President also introduced a provisional ban on carrying out certain transactions and subjecting them to authorisation from the Central Bank.

The Executive Order also vests the Central Bank with the authority to authorise certain transactions and the power to officially interpret matters regarding the implementation of the Executive Order.

In particular, the Executive Order establishes that until September 1, 2022, liabilities under bank account (deposit) agreements denominated in foreign currency and signed between lending institutions subject to restrictive measures enacted by countries undertaking hostile actions and clients of these organisations who are resident legal entities (if these liabilities arise before these measures are enacted), shall be deemed duly performed if carried out in rubles for an amount equivalent to the liabilities in foreign currency as per the official exchange rate of the Russian Federation Central Bank as of the date of payment.

In addition, the Executive Order stipulates that the restrictions it sets forth do not extend to money transfers denominated in foreign currency to accounts (deposits) with banks located outside of Russia and held by Russia’s diplomatic and consular missions and Russia’s permanent missions at international (intergovernmental, interstate) organisations, or other official missions of the Russian Federations, or the missions of federal executive agencies, representative offices or branches of resident legal entities located outside the Russian Federation as well as their employees. It is also provided that certain requirements set forth in this Executive Order shall not apply to some organisations involved in projects to produce liquefied natural gas in the Russian Arctic in terms of foreign currency credited to the accounts of these organisations in connection with these projects.

In addition, the Executive Order expands the authority of the Government Commission on Monitoring Foreign Investment in Russia.
The President issued several instructions to the Government and the Central Russian of the Federation Bank.

This speech has been posted elsewhere already:

Concert marking the anniversary of Crimea’s reunification with Russia​

March 18, 2022
16:15

Moscow


President of Russia Vladimir Putin: “We, the multi-ethnic nation of the Russian Federation, united by common fate on our land…” These are the first words of our fundamental law, the Russian Constitution. Each word has deep meaning and enormous significance.

On our land, united by common fate. This is what the people of Crimea and Sevastopol must have been thinking as they went to the referendum on March 18, 2014. They lived and continue to live on their land, and they wanted to have a common fate with their historical motherland, Russia. They had every right to it and they achieved their goal. Let’s congratulate them first because it is their holiday. Happy anniversary!

Over these years, Russia has done a great deal to help Crimea and Sevastopol grow. There were things that needed to be done that were not immediately obvious to the unaided eye. These were essential things such as gas and power supply, utility infrastructure, restoring the road network, and construction of new roads, motorways and bridges.

We needed to drag Crimea out of that humiliating position and state that Crimea and Sevastopol had been pushed into when they were part of another state that had only provided leftover financing to these territories.

There is more to it. The fact is we know what needs to be done next, how it needs to be done, and at what cost – and we will fulfil all these plans, absolutely.

These decisions are not even as important as the fact that the residents of Crimea and Sevastopol made the right choice when they put up a firm barrier against neo-Nazis and ultra-nationalists. What was and is still happening on other territories is the best indication that they did the right thing.

People who lived and live in Donbass did not agree with this coup d’état, either. Several punitive military operations were instantly staged against them; they were besieged and subjected to systemic shelling with artillery and bombing by aircraft – and this is actually what is called “genocide.”

The main goal and motive of the military operation that we launched in Donbass and Ukraine is to relieve these people of suffering, of this genocide. At this point, I recall the words from the Holy Scripture: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” And we are seeing how heroically our military are fighting during this operation.

These words come from the Holy Scripture of Christianity, from what is cherished by those who profess this religion. But the bottom line is that this is a universal value for all nations and those of all religions in Russia, and primarily for our people. The best evidence of this is how our fellows are fighting and acting in this operation: shoulder to shoulder, helping and supporting each other. If they have to, they will cover each other with their bodies to protect their comrade from a bullet in the battlefield, as they would to save their brother. It has been a long time since we had such unity.

It so happened that, by sheer coincidence, the start of the operation was same day as the birthday of one of our outstanding military leaders who was canonised – Fedor Ushakov. He did not lose a single battle throughout his brilliant career. He once said that these thunderstorms would glorify Russia. This is how it was in his time; this is how it is today and will always be!

Thank you!

Russian and Belarusian athletes were banned from the Paralympics this year. So, they held their own:

Greetings to participants in Winter Paralympics titled We Are Together. Sport​

Vladimir Putin made a video address for the participants in the open Russian sports competition, Winter Paralympic Games, We Are Together. Sport.

March 18, 2022
17:30

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends,

Greetings to everyone at the open Russian Winter Paralympic Games.

You have gathered in the wonderful city of Khanty-Mansiysk, where people love sports, are proud of their sports traditions and, with great enthusiasm, supported the decision to hold these competitions for you, the best Paralympic athletes on the planet.

I am sure that you will fully feel the hospitality of Khanty-Mansiysk residents and, of course, the kindest emotions of fans, who will warmly support you and your brilliant performances.

There is no doubt that all this will give you a powerful boost of energy and help you achieve the best results and impressive world records, and win an honest and uncompromising fight, where the fundamental values of sport, free of politics and discrimination, will dominate.

Unfortunately, in recent years, a lot of major international competitions have been marked by events that are incompatible with sports, its spirit and atmosphere. We have repeatedly witnessed dubious and biased judging, slander, aggressive acts and outright provocations; we have seen how the ideas of Pierre de Coubertin are methodically falsified and distorted, and the once sacred principles of sports become blurred.

Right before our eyes, equality turned into perverted tolerance, justice became double standards, and the fight for clean sport became a politically biased dictatorship of the anti-doping bureaucracy.

The Olympic movement took a heavy blow with so-called shared responsibility, which was first launched by international sports officials at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

All this leads not only to the loss of authority and independence of organisations that are important for the development of world sports, but also to the violation of the Olympic Charter, including the key thesis that the Games are a competition between athletes, not between states.

The height of cynicism was the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paralympics in Beijing. It was not just innocent athletes but Paralympic athletes who suffered – people who were not discouraged but overcame the most difficult trials in life, people who are worthy of all possible support and admiration, those who, by their example, give hope to millions, making people believe in themselves and in their strength.

Russia, which has always adhered to the ideals of sports and Olympism, will not put up with the deprivation of athletes or their mentors on their biggest day. They have been preparing for this for a long time. And we decided to hold our own competition, open to Paralympic athletes from around the world, to recognised leaders and debutants, to everyone who truly cares about sport and its values.

I know that here in Khanty-Mansiysk you will prove that you are the best, strongest, most courageous and talented athletes. We are proud of you!

I wish you all great success and, of course, exceptional victories!

Telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron​

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron at the French side’s initiative.

March 18, 2022
19:55

The exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine was continued. Responding to the concerns expressed by Emmanuel Macron, the President of Russia emphasised again that during the special military operation the Armed Forces of Russia have been doing everything possible to protect the lives of the civilians, including by organising humanitarian corridors for their safe evacuation. The numerous war crimes committed each day by Ukrainian security and nationalist forces, in particular the massive missile and artillery fire on Donbass cities, was brought to notice.

Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron also spoke about the state of talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives, including Russia’s principled approaches to the elaboration of potential agreements.

The leaders agreed to stay in contact.

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel​

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel at the Luxembourg side’s initiative.

March 19, 2022
15:10

In follow-up to their previous conversation, the leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine and Donbass in view of Russia’s special military operation. Vladimir Putin emphasised the continuing missile strikes by the Ukrainian army at Donetsk and other cities in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics which cause numerous civilian casualties. He also stressed that the US military biological activity in Ukraine is unacceptable since it poses an enormous threat both to Russia and all of Europe.

Xavier Bettel informed the President of Russia about his contacts with the leaders of Ukraine and a number of other states. Vladimir Putin provided his principled assessments of the progress made at the talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

Congratulations to President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov​

Vladimir Putin sent a message of congratulations to President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov on the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

March 20, 2022
09:00

The message reads, in part:

“Russian-Kyrgyzstani ties have reached the level of strategic partnership and allied relations over the past decades. A substantive political dialogue and fruitful cooperation in various areas are progressing successfully. Moscow and Bishkek are effectively interacting within the EAEU, CSTO, CIS, SCO and other multilateral structures.

I am confident that we will ensure further progress of the entire range of bilateral relations through joint efforts in the interests of strengthening regional stability and security.”

Congratulations to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev​

Vladimir Putin sent a message of congratulations to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Uzbekistan.

March 20, 2022
09:00

The message reads, in part:

“In the past decades, Russia and Uzbekistan have acquired considerable experience in beneficial cooperation in all areas, arranged constructive interaction within the CIS, SCO and other multilateral structures, and coordination of efforts in countering challenges and threats to regional security.

I firmly believe that we will continue to strengthen Russia-Uzbekistan strategic partnership and allied relations in every possible way. This clearly meets the interests of our friendly nations and follows the course of ensuring peace and stability in Central Asia.”

 

[Cosmos]

I got lucky and was able to access the Kremlin website shortly. I copy and pasted everything. So in my next post below, I'll post it here in chronological order to archive it. I just concentrate on the transcripts that are relevant to the situation. Could be that some of it was already posted here.

Greetings to participants in Winter Paralympics titled We Are Together. Sport

Vladimir Putin made a video address for the participants in the open Russian sports competition, Winter Paralympic Games, We Are Together. Sport.

March 18, 2022 17:30

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends,

Greetings to everyone at the open Russian Winter Paralympic Games.

You have gathered in the wonderful city of Khanty-Mansiysk, where people love sports, are proud of their sports traditions and, with great enthusiasm, supported the decision to hold these competitions for you, the best Paralympic athletes on the planet.

I am sure that you will fully feel the hospitality of Khanty-Mansiysk residents and, of course, the kindest emotions of fans, who will warmly support you and your brilliant performances.

There is no doubt that all this will give you a powerful boost of energy and help you achieve the best results and impressive world records, and win an honest and uncompromising fight, where the fundamental values of sport, free of politics and discrimination, will dominate.

Unfortunately, in recent years, a lot of major international competitions have been marked by events that are incompatible with sports, its spirit and atmosphere. We have repeatedly witnessed dubious and biased judging, slander, aggressive acts and outright provocations; we have seen how the ideas of Pierre de Coubertin are methodically falsified and distorted, and the once sacred principles of sports become blurred.

Right before our eyes, equality turned into perverted tolerance, justice became double standards, and the fight for clean sport became a politically biased dictatorship of the anti-doping bureaucracy.

The Olympic movement took a heavy blow with so-called shared responsibility, which was first launched by international sports officials at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

All this leads not only to the loss of authority and independence of organisations that are important for the development of world sports, but also to the violation of the Olympic Charter, including the key thesis that the Games are a competition between athletes, not between states.

The height of cynicism was the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paralympics in Beijing. It was not just innocent athletes but Paralympic athletes who suffered – people who were not discouraged but overcame the most difficult trials in life, people who are worthy of all possible support and admiration, those who, by their example, give hope to millions, making people believe in themselves and in their strength.

Russia, which has always adhered to the ideals of sports and Olympism, will not put up with the deprivation of athletes or their mentors on their biggest day. They have been preparing for this for a long time. And we decided to hold our own competition, open to Paralympic athletes from around the world, to recognised leaders and debutants, to everyone who truly cares about sport and its values.

I know that here in Khanty-Mansiysk you will prove that you are the best, strongest, most courageous and talented athletes. We are proud of you!

I wish you all great success and, of course, exceptional victories!

Telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron at the French side’s initiative.

March 18, 2022 19:55

The exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine was continued. Responding to the concerns expressed by Emmanuel Macron (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/518/events), the President of Russia emphasised again that during the special military operation the Armed Forces of Russia have been doing everything possible to protect the lives of the civilians, including by organising humanitarian corridors for their safe evacuation. The numerous war crimes committed each day by Ukrainian security and nationalist forces, in particular the massive missile and artillery fire on Donbass cities, was brought to notice.

Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron also spoke about the state of talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives, including Russia’s principled approaches to the elaboration of potential agreements.

The leaders agreed to stay in contact.

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel at the Luxembourg side’s initiative.

March 19, 2022 15:10

In follow-up to their previous conversation (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67981), the leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine and Donbass in view of Russia’s special military operation. Vladimir Putin emphasised the continuing missile strikes by the Ukrainian army at Donetsk and other cities in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics which cause numerous civilian casualties. He also stressed that the US military biological activity in Ukraine is unacceptable since it poses an enormous threat both to Russia and all of Europe.

Xavier Bettel informed the President of Russia about his contacts with the leaders of Ukraine and a number of other states. Vladimir Putin provided his principled assessments of the progress made at the talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

Congratulations to President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov

Vladimir Putin sent a message of congratulations to President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov on the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

March 20, 2022 09:00

The message reads, in part:

“Russian-Kyrgyzstani ties have reached the level of strategic partnership and allied relations over the past decades. A substantive political dialogue and fruitful cooperation in various areas are progressing successfully. Moscow and Bishkek are effectively interacting within the EAEU (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/glossary/89), CSTO (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/glossary/30), CIS (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/glossary/38), SCO (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/glossary/42) and other multilateral structures.

I am confident that we will ensure further progress of the entire range of bilateral relations through joint efforts in the interests of strengthening regional stability and security.”

 

[Cosmos]

Congratulations to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev

Vladimir Putin sent a message of congratulations to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Uzbekistan.

March 20, 2022 09:00

The message reads, in part:

“In the past decades, Russia and Uzbekistan have acquired considerable experience in beneficial cooperation in all areas, arranged constructive interaction within the CIS (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/glossary/38), SCO (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/glossary/42) and other multilateral structures, and coordination of efforts in countering challenges and threats to regional security.

I firmly believe that we will continue to strengthen Russia-Uzbekistan strategic partnership and allied relations in every possible way. This clearly meets the interests of our friendly nations and follows the course of ensuring peace and stability in Central Asia.”

Telephone conversation with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev

At the initiative of the Uzbek side, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

March 21, 2022 13:45

The presidents discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation, including the implementation of agreements reached following the visit (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67142) by the President of Uzbekistan to Russia in November 2021. The heads of state exchanged congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The parties confirmed interest in further strengthening the strategic partnership and alliance between the two countries and expanding mutually beneficial ties in the political, trade, economic, and humanitarian spheres, as well as others.

Vladimir Putin informed his counterpart about the course of the special military operation to protect the republics of Donbass. The President of Uzbekistan spoke with understanding about the position and actions of the Russian side.

It was agreed to continue contacts at various levels.

Meeting with Governor of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area Dmitry Artyukhov

Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area Dmitry Artyukhov.

March 21, 2022 13:50
The Kremlin, Moscow

Governor of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area Dmitry Artyukhov.
The discussion covered a broad range of issues linked with the region’s economic development. Vladimir Putin noted that the region is one of the national leaders. Its GRP increased by over 10 percent last year, with industrial production also on the rise. Agriculture went up by over 9 percent despite tough climate conditions, and the construction sector grew by 60 percent. The President emphasised that there are still issues that require more attention, such as the large amount of dilapidated housing and environmental problems.

The Governor started his report with a coronavirus update. He said the healthcare system is generally coping. Everything necessary, such as medications and protective gear, is available. The region ranks first in testing. Two infectious disease hospitals were built in Novy Urengoi and Salekhard based on the Defence Ministry’s designs. Mobile diagnostic centres based on the Kamaz truck are available for remote areas. People can receive a full screening there: ECG, fluorography and whatever else is required.

As for economic figures, all the region’s indicators are in the black for energy, the main economic sector: production of gas, oil and gas condensate. Industrial production has increased by 17 percent, while investment exceeds a trillion rubles. This affects the social indicators. The region is in the lead in key areas. It has low poverty and unemployment rates and high revenues. All this is very important for demographics. The region comes one of the first in Russia in natural population increase.

The Governor told the President how he managed to reduce infant mortality to the national average and how the region launched a pilot project last year, offering free prenatal genetic tests to all those who needed them. Vladimir Putin said that this practice is very important, and that all Russian regions should follow this example.

The discussion also touched upon the progress of the national renovation projects focusing on relocation from dilapidated housing, creating a comfortable urban environment, construction of kindergartens and schools, as well as the opening of an airport in Novy Urengoi this year.

Dmitry Artyukhov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/560/events) reported an increase in the populations of the indigenous peoples of the North and those who are involved in traditional communities. Reindeer breeding – one of the traditional trades – is showing an upward trend.

The governor also spoke about the Snezhinka research station in the Arctic, which is a joint project with the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. There is progress in designing the unmanned postal delivery system and the use of drones at gas production fields.

Dmitry Artyukhov also spoke about the wages of public sector employees in the Arctic. After reaching a certain service record, they become eligible for “northern” wage premiums. Many organisations are experiencing a shortage of workers. There would be more flexibility in resolving this issue if northern wage premiums were paid to workers from day one.

The governor explained that the northern wage premiums are accumulated and can reach 80 percent. But young professionals receive zero unless they have lived in the North for a certain period of time. The governor believes that this may be an impediment for younger professionals to move to the North, be it law enforcement, security, tax or other specialists in under-staffed sectors and industries. Resolving this problem could help reinforce federal agency work staff.

Vladimir Putin found this proposal fair and promised to instruct the Government to make appropriate proposals as soon as possible.

Condolences to PRC President Xi Jinping

Vladimir Putin conveyed his condolences to President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping over the death of passengers and crew on a flight from Kunming to Guangzhou.

March 21, 2022 18:30

“The people of Russia share the grief of those who lost family members and friends in this tragedy,” reads the message of condolence from the President of Russia.

 

[Cosmos]

Meeting with Novgorod Region Governor Andrei Nikitin

Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Novgorod Region Governor Andrei Nikitin, who updated the President on the socioeconomic situation in the region.

March 22, 2022 14:05
The Kremlin, Moscow

The President noted that industrial production and construction were growing in the region, that the unemployment rate was below the average for the country as a whole, and the budget situation had normalised. However, there were issues that required attention.

The Governor said that the people’s real disposable incomes were growing for the first time in years. The region reported a surplus budget, mostly thanks to exports, and the year was very good in terms of exports by leading manufacturers. The authorities are introducing a social contract mechanism. Over the past two years, some 12,000 social contracts have been signed, and 80 percent of them are seen as effective, that is, they have helped increase families’ incomes. This exceeds the national average and is a major step towards improving people’s quality of life.

Andrei Nikitin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/503/events), who was appointed Novgorod Region Governor in 2017, added that the number of students at Novgorod State University had increased from 7,000 to nearly 13,000, and this figure included not only local residents but also young people from other regions. The number of students at vocational training schools had increased from 8,000 to 15,000. In the past, only local residents studied at these higher educational institutions, but today they attract students from 30 regions. The Governor pointed out that this makes it possible to envisage the development of modern industries and that the authorities are already preparing to meet the challenge of providing housing for young people.

According to the Governor, the region has risen from 41st place to 8th in the Education Ministry’s ranking of the quality of education. The region’s colleges have risen from 42nd to 13th place in the WorldSkills ranking. As for Olympiads, the region’s representatives started from scratch and today, some 1,500–2,000 Novgorodians take part in various Olympiads. This creates a foundation for the future, for growth and development.

The governor thanked the President for supporting the development of a special economic zone and an innovative valley. The economic zone was launched last August. Eight investors are already starting to build their production facilities.

The governor and the President also discussed the general quality of life and the effectiveness of improvements. The share of well-maintained roads in the region has increased from 28 to almost 50 percent. The governor said that road maintenance had been a long-term issue for the Novgorod Region. It is not completely resolved but local residents are already noticing changes. As a result of all these general improvements, Andrei Nikitin believes that, for the first time in decades, people have actually started moving to the region, especially young people, students and young professionals.

Healthcare remains a complicated issue that requires serious efforts. The Novgorod Region has always lagged behind many other regions when it comes to public healthcare. Some progress was achieved but the Covid-19 pandemic substantially worsened the picture. However, the mortality rate among the able-bodied population in the region has decreased and continues to decline. Primary care development efforts should also have a certain impact.

Andrei Nikitin reported on efforts to preserve historical memory, specifically, in connection with the federal programme aimed at restoring military graves. The number of school students involved in patriotic projects has doubled. There are patriotic groups in every school. A memorial called Zhestyanaya Gorka was built as per the President’s instruction. It is the first memorial to the civilians killed by Nazis during the Great Patriotic War. The first trial that recognised the act of genocide against the peoples of the Soviet Union was held in the Batetsky District of the Novgorod Region.

The governor also reported that, in accordance with his earlier promise to the President, the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity had been restored in Sopiny. The construction of the church was funded by the outstanding 18th century Russian military commander Alexander Suvorov. The church was finished after Suvorov’s death. For many years, the church was dilapidated but today it is once again a fine and beautiful place of worship.

Telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron at the latter’s initiative.

March 22, 2022 21:40

The presidents continued a detailed exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine, including the current talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

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 23, 2022 16:35

While discussing the situation around Ukraine, the leaders focused on the current talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives. Vladimir Putin set forth a number of considerations in the context of the Russian Federation’s principled positions at these talks.

 

[Cosmos]

Meeting with Government members

Vladimir Putin held a meeting, via videoconference, with Government members.

March 23, 2022 16:55
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

Taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/294/events), First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/330/biography), First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Kiriyenko (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/175/biography), deputy prime ministers Viktoria Abramchenko (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/623/events), Yury Borisov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/551/events), Tatyana Golikova (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/78/biography), Alexei Overchuk (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/624/biography), Marat Khusnullin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/625/events) and Dmitry Chernyshenko (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/626/events), Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/622/events), Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/59/biography), Presidential Aide Maxim Oreshkin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/495/biography), Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/504/events) and Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/282/events). Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/331/events), Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/627/events), Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/453/events), Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/647/events), Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Irek Fayzullin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/648/events), Chairman of the Accounts Chamber Alexei Kudrin (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/77/events) and Head of the Executive Committee of the Russian Popular Front Mikhail Kuznetsov were also invited to attend the meeting.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

Today, we will discuss a number of urgent issues in great detail, and we will focus on the situation in the construction sector, considering its fundamental role in the economy and its significant social dimension.

Before we do this, I would like to speak about a subject that I consider important. We have discussed this matter with our colleagues in previous days.

As you know, a number of Western countries have made illegitimate decisions to freeze Russian assets in the past few weeks. And the “collective West” has virtually drawn a line under the reliability of its currencies. We have also discussed this aspect; and the West has compromised trust in these currencies. The United States of America and the EU have announced that they are, in principle, defaulting on their obligations with regard to Russia. Today, everyone in the world knows – they suspected it before, but now they know – that dollar and euro obligations may not be fulfilled.

I have already provided a definition for such actions, and I am not going to go into detail. It is absolutely clear, though, that given the circumstances, it makes no sense for us to supply our goods to the European Union or the United States and be paid in dollars, euros or certain other currencies.

So, I have decided to implement, in the shortest possible time, a package of measures to transfer payments, to begin with, for natural gas supplied to “unfriendly countries” to Russian rubles; that is, we will not accept any compromised currency to be used in these transactions.

At the same time, on a separate note, I would like to note that Russia will continue to supply natural gas in the agreed to volumes and for the agreed-on prices as indicated in the existing contracts. Unlike some of our colleagues, we value our business reputation as a reliable partner and supplier.

These changes will affect only the transaction currency, which will now be Russian rubles. I want the Government to direct Gazprom accordingly and to amend the existing contracts.

At the same time, all our foreign consumers should be given an opportunity to make the necessary transactions, and a clear and transparent procedure for making payments should be created for them, including the purchase of Russian rubles on our domestic foreign exchange market. I want the Bank of Russia, in conjunction with the Government, to determine the procedure for such transactions within one week.

I propose moving on to the agenda, and I turn it over to Mr Mishustin.

Mr Mishustin, please go ahead.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin: Mr President, colleagues,

During the previous Government meeting, which you held, I reported in detail on the measures that have already been taken as well as our plans. These proposals are being worked out in full contact with you, Mr President, on a daily basis.

Now, I want to elaborate in more detail on the existing set of solutions to improve the sustainability of the economy.

The operational headquarters is working almost around the clock and remains constantly in touch with the regions, as new measures are being discussed. In addition to the 20 already adopted federal laws, six more laws will be submitted to the State Duma soon. About 30 draft laws and additional proposals are in the works.

To date, along with the measures already approved, about 200 initiatives have been selected, which are included in the priority action plan, and we expect that most of them will become operational by late March.

One of our key tasks is to help those who now have to pay more in interest on previously issued loans or who took out loans with floating rates. The volume of this loan portfolio is estimated at about 11 trillion rubles.

In an effort to support these companies, a special restructuring procedure has been proposed. Mr President, you and I discussed this in detail. In the months ahead, borrowers will not be required to pay the full amount of interest but can capitalise it instead and put it off towards the end of the year.

At the same time, we will analyse the financial circumstances of these businesses and adopt additional decisions to support them. To do this, the Government will draw up a list of criteria for the borrowing companies that are eligible to have these interest payments written off in full.

On a separate note, payments by individuals under mortgage loans issued before the key rate changes will remain as they were as of the end of February.

The most important thing now is to support people. A resolution was signed on the maximum amount of a loan that will allow citizens to apply to banks for a grace period. They will be able to do this through late September, provided that their income is down 30 percent from the previous year's average.

We paid special attention to the labour market. We will help those who want to find employment. Not only the unemployed, but also those who are at risk of being laid off can now use the employment centres’ services.

Many initiatives are designed to supply the domestic market with common goods. We have consulted with our colleagues in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and decided to increase the limit on duty-free e-commerce to 1,000 euros throughout the entire territory. Consumer goods, primarily food and medications will have priority during customs procedures at checkpoints.

One important area concerns the health of our people. Yesterday, we approved a proposal to support the sale of pharmaceuticals and medical goods by simplifying registration and purchase procedures, subsidising loan interest rates and further implementing the import substitution programme on critical medications and medical equipment.

Earlier, we simplified procedures for the purchase of medical equipment, introduced a temporary ban on the export of foreign medical goods, and created more opportunities for medical organisations to buy equipment at the expense of the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund. This will allow hospitals and outpatient clinics to buy medical equipment for surgeries and laboratory research in any situation, while people will be able to buy the medications they need.

Our airlines have faced major difficulties under the circumstances. Many airplanes with “foreign registration” instantly lost their airworthiness certificates without which they cannot be used. Parts supplies were discontinued and bans on insurance services were introduced. Foreign leasing companies are demanding that these aircraft be returned.

Based on the law on registering the rights to foreign aircraft you signed, we received an opportunity to use them inside the country.

The Government has helped carriers keep their fleets of foreign aircraft since the very first days. We are working to resume flights with these planes as soon as possible.
Importantly, in taking these steps, we are strictly following the standards of aviation law, including the international regulations.

Obviously, our main goal is to ensure flight safety. This is above everything else.

We have transferred hundreds of aircraft – more than half the entire fleet – to the Russian Registry. To normalise the situation in this area, the Government took two resolutions. First, we made the registration procedure for listing Russian aircraft in the Russian State Registry as simple as possible and reduced the duration from 40 to five working days. Second, we adopted a document establishing a special mode for implementing aircraft leasing contracts with foreign companies. We have limited the return of these aircraft and aircraft engines to the owners. Russian carriers will be responsible for the technical maintenance and repairs in accordance with international standards.

The restrictions have also affected sea vessels flying the Russian flag – they are prohibited from entering foreign ports. We will definitely not leave such unfriendly steps towards our country unanswered. The Government will introduce proportionate counter restrictions. The respective resolution has been signed.

This is far from the whole list of measures that are currently being worked out.

A large package of measures has been proposed for the construction industry. Last year, construction in Russia showed record results, and we are preparing new support options. They will help Russian builders keep the rollout of civil and industrial premises at the same high level.

A third package of measures was considered yesterday. It includes shortening the investment and construction cycle and creating related infrastructure, as well as maintaining the procedure for changing the price of a state contract as the cost of resources increases.

A number of steps have been taken to support import substitution. Yesterday, the meeting of the operational headquarters board considered the possibility of adjusting the special programme to stimulate the development of design specifications by Russian enterprises. A draft of the relevant resolution has already been submitted to the Government.

A new online service, Import Substitution Exchange, has been launched. The platform should put together a broad supplier base and ensure the replacement of certain imported components with Russian ones, thereby creating demand for domestic products and speeding up the search for potential partners. This service will help develop supply chains and replace missing imported components.

A draft Government decision has also been prepared to facilitate the provision of state support for research projects to create priority industrial products.

The Special Investment Contract 1.0 format, revived in mid-March, has been adjusted, and a corresponding resolution has been signed. Such contracts can now be extended from 10 to 12 years, if restrictive measures by their foreign partners have affected the project’s implementation. Also, the mandatory requirements for the export of industrial products and the diversification of supplies will be removed.

Furthermore, we have supported contractors in public procurement – we have allowed them to write off their fines and penalties indefinitely if they violated their obligations under Government contracts due to the external sanctions.

This week, a resolution was signed to expedite payments for products or services delivered under state corporation contracts with small and medium-sized businesses, reducing the time to seven business days, so businesses can receive payments as soon as possible.

For smaller businesses, four programmes are now available to increase the availability of low-cost loans which include new investment loans for up to three years, an easy-term lending programme implemented as part of a targeted national project, and an increase in the maximum level of risk that the SME Corporation can assume for entrepreneurs under the so-called umbrella guarantee mechanism from the current 4.5 percent to 10 percent.

Another solution is now available for small businesses in a number of industries which will apply to manufacturing enterprises, as well as institutions of culture, sport and public health, as well as the beauty industry and travel agencies. It is proposed that we extend their deadline by six months for paying taxes under the simplified system for the last year and the first quarter of 2022 followed by instalment payments during six months. This will allow businesses to postpone these payments until autumn and free up about 37 billion rubles.

Mr President, under your instructions, ways to improve support for the regions was worked through in detail. To reduce the debt burden, a fundamental decision was made to delay the repayment of debt under budget loans to a later date; and, in order to create additional resources, to expand access to treasury loans to a total of 10 percent of their yield to generate additional resources (we discussed this during a meeting with the regions) for the implementation of ongoing projects.

I would like to note separately that many of the activities under the plan were prepared jointly with the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, with whom we maintain communication at all times, day and night. The heads of the regions approached this work responsibly, and I want to thank them as well. Everyone is constantly in touch.

Along with neutralizing the consequences of sanctions, the Government will continue to address the strategic issues that you, Mr President, have identified as part of the national development goals.

The bulk of the anti-sanctions measures focus on reducing administrative burden, namely, inspections, which should have a positive effect on the operation conditions for entrepreneurs and improve the business environment in the regions.

Our priority is to maximise the flexibility of the economy, to ensure uninterrupted operation of enterprises, and to keep employment intact.

My colleagues will get into more details about other measures.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much, Mr Mishustin.

Now I have a protocol event in my schedule. But before we take a short break, I would like to give the floor to our colleagues: Dmitry Patrushev, Denis Manturov and Mikhail Murashko, so that they briefly outline measures to ensure the availability of food, essential consumer goods, medicines and medical products. Let us begin with Mr Patrushev.

As we stated at the end of last year, there is an increase in prices on the global food markets. This is due to a number of objective factors, but what is happening in Russia today also imposes additional stress on the market. It is clear that in such cases there is a rush demand. True, we can see that it has already died down, but nevertheless, we need to look at the big picture and consider all factors that are creating a certain situation in the market.

(Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev reported that Russia fully satisfies domestic demand in basic foods. According to the Minister, the Russian agro-industrial complex will generally cope with any demand for food, including in case of a significant increase. He commented on the categories where there is peak demand and talked about measures that the Government was taking to promptly organise the production of the necessary items at Russian factories and solve the current supply chain problems, as well as about the progress of the spring sowing campaign and its financial support.)

Vladimir Putin: I hope that you and your colleagues in the regions will carefully monitor any developments in retail trade and respond to them promptly.

In this sense, we have a fairly high level of reliability. The main thing here is to monitor supply chain problems and to respond to them promptly.

I apologise, but we will have a break for about 15 minutes, and after that I will ask, as I already said, Mr Manturov and Mr Murashko to report on their areas.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Manturov, please.

Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov: Thank you very much.

In addition to supplying retailers with food, as I reported to you at the previous meeting, we are monitoring the availability and production of non-foods in our country. The demand for certain categories of goods was two to three times higher than usual in late February and the first ten days of March, but now it has noticeably declined. Sales of certain items are still 30–40 percent higher than in the same period last year, although demand is rapidly becoming saturated.

Accordingly, warehouse stock levels of the most popular everyday goods are returning to standard level. For example, for personal care products, children's items and household cleaning products the stock levels vary between two weeks and three months. For all these commodity groups, both Russian companies and multinationals meet the needs of the domestic market. And global producers with facilities in Russia are not going to stop them and do not want to lose their share.

(The Minister went on to give specific figures for children's sanitary and cosmetic products and other personal care products. According to him, 84 percent of detergents are produced in Russia. In the event that even a small fraction of imported goods are withdrawn, Russian and localised foreign companies are ready to increase their production volumes).

We have not noticed any surge in demand for a wide range of clothing or footwear. At the same time, given the objective rise in prices and the suspension of sales of some imported brands, our own domestic clothing production is gaining a good advantage.

Of course, our consumers are used to a variety of brands, especially foreign ones. The disappearance of some of them does not mean that the population will have problems buying clothes. There are currently more than a thousand Russian clothing, footwear and fashion accessories brands, and a favourable situation is emerging for them in terms of a more advantageous price-quality ratio.

We are in no hurry to look for foreign replacements for certain foreign brands, especially since consumers have their own preferences. Now is the time for Russian production and brands to start growing, and for new clothing and footwear chains to start appearing. We will assist our companies in this work in every possible way.

Regarding durable goods, we put together about 90 percent of household appliances and electronics, mostly of foreign make, with varying amounts of domestic content. Inventories of already-made goods will last from 1.5 to 3 months. The production of foreign components and logistics difficulties are certainly increasing costs, which is reflected at the retail end for consumers. However, producers have reserves of spare parts for several months, which makes it possible to alleviate these increases to some extent.

The companies that assemble their products on Russian territory do not plan to leave the Russian market, especially since many of them have research centres here. This confirms again that they will stay in our market.

As for the import of household appliances, our main suppliers are friendly countries that have no stake in suspending their exports.

Our furniture industry is fairly independent with the exception of probably a small amount of premium goods. Over 70 percent of furniture in the domestic market is made at home. In effect, we have always emphasised building up mass production of furniture.

The same applies to finishing building materials. In this segment, the share of imports does not exceed 4 percent. These include mostly tiles, bathroom ceramic and dry building mixes; but even for these items, domestic producers and localised companies amount to over 80 percent of sales.

According to our information, nobody plans to quit our building materials market. Moreover, it is now being evaluated by new foreign investors that have the technology, raw materials and equipment.

In general, I can say that statements by some brands on the suspension of their activities have not yet exerted serious influence on the non-food market.
Only very few companies have announced a final decision to leave the market. Others are reducing advertising and pointing to supply problems but continue paying wages and the lease for their facilities. All of them understand that at the current level of competition it is very easy to give up on the market but much more difficult to come back to it later.

We continuously monitor the activities of the main companies here, primarily foreign companies, which sell non-food products in our market and will continue to do so.

Thank you for your attention.

Vladimir Putin: Even partial departure of a foreign producer will certainly create a unique opportunity for developing domestic production. This is clear.

That said, we need to do everything we can to maintain domestic competition, to prevent any monopolisation. This is absolutely clear. Of course, I would like to ask you to make sure that the range of goods in the market is broad enough for people to choose what they want.

Mr Murashko, please brief us on medical products and medications.

Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko: Mr President,

If I may, I will briefly cover regulations and trade in medical products. Prior to the pandemic, we created a fairly well-developed regulatory system. By “developed” I do not mean bureaucratic mechanisms, but clear and easy-to-follow rules for trade, for both manufacturers and businesses, as well as a high level of digital technology and government systems.

Today, we can see every labelled pharmaceutical package, and we know exactly how many of them are in circulation which makes it possible for us to estimate and forecast the demand for medications.

We know the exact number and types of medical products that are registered in the Russian Federation and are purchased by medical institutions and companies under tendering procedures. These mechanisms and tools made it possible for us to respond in a timely manner to the challenges of COVID-19, when with closed borders and simultaneous global demand for medical products, we teamed up with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the regions to provide customers and public healthcare organisations with medical products.

In order to ensure uninterrupted access to medical products for the public, we have identified six priority areas.

First, to stabilise the situation, we need a monitoring system. It involves the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Finance Ministry, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service and the digital technologies we are using today. We are quickly developing and approving new mechanisms to address the issues faced by manufacturers or distributors.

(As an example, the Minister cited the temporary unavailability of several medications in pharmacies, the sales of which, in early March, increased greatly due to the fact that people were buying them up and hoarding, which caused delays in the supply chains. Addressing the public, Mikhail Murashko said that manufacturers and distributors have no problems with production or stock. Currently, the public healthcare system has ample supplies of these medicines, and there is no need to stock up on them.)

Yesterday, we gathered together major federal suppliers, and they told us that consumption rates are back to March 2021 levels. Production and deliveries continue as planned.

Preventing auction-related risks during this period is the second most important area of focus for us. The Government has amended the law to simplify the procedure for purchasing medical goods and expendable materials, as Mr Mishustin mentioned in his remarks.

As per your instructions, Mr President, we have established the Federal Centre for Planning and Organising Provision of Medicines for Citizens for centralised purchases of medicines under the state programme “14 cost-intensive nosologies” – it covers the provision of medicines for people with Hepatitis and HIV. In particular, we are purchasing large amounts of medicines for the Circle of Kindness Foundation. Purchases will fully cover our needs; as of now, 85 percent of medicines have been delivered. We do not envisage any risk for chronic patients from these groups. This system has been used for many years for the timely supply of medicines to each patient.

I would like to note that by increasing the volume of contracted batches and by signing long-term contracts, we are saving budgetary funds and reducing logistics and storage costs.

We are already making plans for 2023 to ensure guaranteed contracts for producers and for the timely delivery of medicines to patients.

The fourth priority area is using these mechanisms for the distribution of medical products. We are working with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, with a focus on domestic producers.

With this in view, we have prepared priority lists of medical products to be created and produced and have sent them to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Russia has the necessary competencies for many of them.

Our next priority is to remove the obstacles to the delivery of effective quality medical products to the Russian market. This involves the special registration procedures needed to validate a products’ effectiveness and safety. Therefore, to be able to launch a direct dialogue and to create clear and understandable procedures, we have amended the medical products file. This will facilitate the work of producers and will reduce the period of consideration.

We are also creating a hotline on medicines at an expert facility.

We are holding consultations on the registration of medical products. This is a complex area, which is why we need such consultations.

And the sixth and final priority concerns the highly sensitive issue of medicine price control. This is being done within the framework of state regulation of prices of vital and essential medicines. These prices are fixed and can only be changed for objective reasons to ensure affordability for users, including at pharmacies.

In conclusion, I would like to point out that the measures we have adopted, and are still considering at the interdepartmental level, have a cumulative effect and are aimed at ensuring physical availability and price affordability, as well as diversity of medical products.

Thank you. This concludes my report.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

I would like to repeat what I said after Mr Manturov’s report.

The departure or potential departure of some foreign producers from our market creates unique opportunities for domestic companies. This is how it was with the development of our agro-industrial sector when we restricted the activities of some foreign producers of agricultural products and the processing industry in our market.

Obviously, at this point we must support our producers. At the beginning of our meeting, the Prime Minister talked about a number of measures that the Government is taking to make this support tangible. I know the Government is working on other measures as well. It is necessary to continue working on this together, in cooperation both with the Bank of Russia and the Executive Office.

These efforts are bound to produce the desired effect, like they did in the agro-industrial sector. But of course, we must ensure quality and variety and enhance rather than hurt the competitive environment in the market. I am hoping this is how it will be, and I do not have any doubts about this.

Let’s turn to the next item, which is the main issue. Today we will review the implementation of our programmes on developing infrastructure, building capital facilities, including schools and hospitals. We will discuss separately the mechanisms for supporting housing construction, one of the main sectors in our national economy.

Let me recall that at a recent meeting with the regions held on March 16, we made several important decisions on this. Let’s discuss how they are proceeding.

What are these about? Some issues were already mentioned, but I will repeat them.

First, we decided that public capital investment would be funded as a priority. Supplies of materials and the implementation of projects must be funded in full as planned. As for the implementation of projects as such, this needs to be more flexible and open to different technological solutions and the use of components within a given range.

At this point, I would like to point out that many of the projects already initiated in the regions have faced an objective increase in estimated costs. By the way, this was also the case in the previous period, but now it is even more obvious. To avoid disrupting construction schedules and to compensate for price increases on construction materials, we agreed last December, well before the current events, to allocate additional resources to the regions. We must see that these decisions are implemented in full; this funding needs to be allocated to the regions as quickly as possible.

Second. It was decided to expand the regions' capacity to finance their expenditures. In addition to other things, the maximum amount of credit lines allocated to each constituent member of the Federation will be increased as part of a budget loan. As I said earlier, this year it is up to 10 percent of the region's total revenues. It should be noted that there should be no additional conditions to receive such a loan. The money will be available until the end of the fiscal year.

In doing so, this year we will completely relieve the regions of repaying the loans granted from the federal budget. These liabilities will be postponed for the period from 2025 to 2029, inclusive.

In addition, we will support the fulfilment of obligations on securities and commercial loans taken by the regions and municipalities. This year, budget loans with maturity dates up to 2029 will also be allocated for these purposes.

Once again, I would like to point out to our colleagues in the Government the fact that the aforementioned decisions have been taken; it is necessary to implement them without delay, to establish a regulatory framework quickly and to transfer the funds to the regions.

Third. A separate measure has been adopted to support the construction industry and ensure its consistent operations. Here we have a clear target: the mortgage loan portfolio, in nominal terms, must grow this year at least as much as last year. Of course, I understand that the situation is changing and the market is changing. This is not a simple goal, but a difficult one; we talked with our colleagues about it this morning. But it is something to strive for.

Based on this goal, our preferential and mortgage lending programmes should also be fine-tuned. I look forward to hearing your proposals on this today.

I suggest turning to the agenda. Mr Khusnullin, go ahead please.

Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin: Mr President,

To fulfil the goals you set, we have organised consistent staff work with all government bodies, all customers and all regions. Three headquarters are working and coordinating this, sometimes starting at 7.30 am. We are working like this every day and sometimes even around the clock.

The priority task we set for ourselves is to analyse the facilities under our projects in our three-year programme. Our approach is to answer the following questions: how much do they use import substitution and how quickly can we convert them to go without imported components.

Luckily, the share of imports in our construction industry is low, and so we believe our main construction projects will not see delays. On the contrary, we will expedite many projects.

With this aim in view, we have made many decisions, including those in the package of anti-crisis measures. Of these, 17 decisions directly affect the construction industry and the housing and utilities sector, and 40 decisions have an indirect impact on it. We are carrying them out according to plan; we are issuing directives. We have adopted many laws, and we are carrying out a whole set of regulations.

Now we have drafted an entirely new federal targeted investment programme with new approaches and an opportunity to regulate and adjust it with a lot of flexibility.
Our goal is to complete the drafting of this programme before May 1 with due account for our three-year timeframe with a forecast for five years because this sustainable guaranteed programme allows us to quickly adjust it. Even if something goes wrong – either because of import substitution or logistics, we will be able to replace some facilities with others and will complete our annual programme, overall.

We have drafted many legal decisions for this purpose. As I said, they allow us to be flexible in our management. This is the first point.

Second, literally yesterday, we drafted a law in cooperation with the Finance Ministry. Many companies have asked us to adopt this law. It amends 44-FZ to allow the purchase of construction services on a turnkey basis: designing, prospecting, supplies and construction in one go – and then to promptly change any decisions.

We have finalised the advance payment mechanism that the regions are now waiting for, and we will issue the relevant document in the next few days.

(The Deputy Prime Minister went on to speak about controlling the rising materials costs, adding that the price hikes for metallurgy products have been stopped. He talked about providing financial assistance to the regions, expanding housing construction and maintaining the mortgage portfolio. In his words, the current mortgage portfolio is valued at 13 trillion rubles, or 11 percent of GDP. Mortgages account for 10 percent of the banking system's assets, 15 percent of overall lending, and 47 percent of retail loans. He also spoke about supporting developers.)

As for the most important measures to support infrastructure construction, we have made decisions on budget loans for infrastructure development totalling 864 billion rubles, including all the instructions that you have issued. This includes support for the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the Chelyabinsk Region, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, as well as the treatment facilities on the Black Sea coast.

At this point, only one project mentioned in your instructions is up in the air – the Northern Latitudinal Railway in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area. We propose not to scrap it, just postpone it for a year, because it includes concession agreements, which they are unlikely to be able to fulfil in the current situation. It is worth 50 billion, and we propose distributing the funds among the regions. This is the first proposal.

(The Deputy Prime Minister also raised the issue of supporting the regions, in particular, granting their requests to replace previously approved projects if they have difficulties implementing those projects, which is actually an anti-crisis measure. Marat Khusnullin spoke about the work to improve housing and utilities sector, about the preparation of a major development programme for the housing and utilities sector, as well as public transport and road construction.)

Our Safe and High-Quality Roads project is the most recognisable and the most supported among Russians. It has the highest rating among all national projects.

We are working on the three main tasks and goals included in your Executive Order. One of them is to bring 85 percent of the motorways in the country’s 105 largest urban areas up to standard by 2024.

The second task is to bring 50 percent of regional roads up to standard, also in 2024. This way, Russia will have a backbone regional road network with more than 50 percent high-quality roads. The target is actually about 72 percent across the country. This is very important work.

We also continue improving the country’s backbone road network, which now includes 138,000 kilometres of roads. I once reported to you that this backbone network includes federal, regional and municipal roads, and we need to improve as much of it as possible. If additional funds are allocated, we could also start this part of our work. We have a lot of work to do to widen roads, because many of the roads we have today need to be widened. It is much cheaper and much faster, and the road’s capacity is doubled.

In fact, we have prepared a five-year programme and are ready to submit it to the Government with the exact number of facilities we plan to build. With an allocation of about 120 billion more this year, we can guarantee that these figures will be fulfilled, and we will try to fulfil them ahead of schedule.

(Marat Khusnullin also reported on the progress of the Moscow-Kazan-Yekaterinburg motorway construction and its subsequent extension to Perm and Chelyabinsk, including rebuilding the road from Yekaterinburg to Chelyabinsk, and on the development of several legislative mechanisms for the transport sector.)

We also have a question on lending to commercial facilities. This is also a large sector of the economy. We have not worked this out yet; first we need to deal with housing. The next step is to finalise commercial construction, because this is also an important sector that is not only involved in construction, but also creates jobs.

In general, thanks to the decisions you listed, we believe we can accomplish most of our plans. Thank you for your support and constant attention.

This concludes my report.

(Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov and Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov commented on the report by Marat Khusnullin.)

Vladimir Putin: Let’s sum up a bit. In general, I agree with the proposals made today.

What would I like to comment on?

First, I suggest supporting the Government’s proposals and allocating additional funds for the construction and repair of roads in the regions this year. The amount given today was at least 120 billion rubles. I propose proceeding from this sum. Now the Minister of Finance is confirming these agreements, and we will continue to do so.

Second, the special measures we discussed today in detail, are necessary to support certain sectors of the economy, including those that have faced restrictions on the export of their products. Mr Manturov has mentioned the metallurgists once again. We need to quickly deploy infrastructure plans and launch new construction projects in order to encourage demand for these products, as I said, primarily in the metallurgical industry, to increase demand within the country. Mr Khusnullin reported that the Government is already working on this. Please keep it under constant control.

Third, we have to be sure that new facilities appear on the housing market so our citizens, Russian families, have a real opportunity to purchase housing, including through mortgages.

Of course, we can see how the situation on the mortgage market has changed. And if we calculate the market rate, the real market rate on loans, then of course, it has increased noticeably. On average, it should have been about 20 percent or even more.

Let me outline our principled position: we will not change the rates for our special mortgage programmes, namely: six percent for the family mortgage, three percent for the rural mortgage, and two percent for the Far Eastern mortgage. But I would just like to point out that each of these programmes has time limits: some end in late 2022, some in late 2023, and others end in late 2024. We will talk about this later, but people should also be aware of this and plan their expenses in a timely manner depending on the family budget, when carrying out their plans to improve their living conditions.

At the same time, we will flexibly regulate our other programme – a preferential mortgage in general, which was launched back in 2020 as an anti-crisis measure. Let me remind you that we introduced it as part of a whole package of measures to overcome the socioeconomic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. And it was temporary, also temporary. Today, the rate for such preferential mortgage is seven percent, and the maximum loan is the same for all regions and amounts to three million rubles. Mr Khusnullin said today that, taking into account the trends in the mortgage market, the Government proposed to amend this programme by increasing the maximum amount of a preferential mortgage for the capital regions – Moscow, St Petersburg and the Moscow and Leningrad regions – up to 12 million rubles, and for all other regions up to six million rubles. Let us do that. Agreed.

It is also proposed to increase the rate up to 12 percent. However, let me emphasise that even in this case it will be significantly lower, almost two times lower than the current market rate, almost twice, as I said, because it is about 23–24 percent. And this rate will be only 12.

Let us see how all these solutions work. I would like to remind you again: the target is for the mortgage loan portfolio this year to grow no less than last year. I repeat once again: it is difficult, we all understand this, but we need to strive for this. If its dynamics differ from the planned figures, it will be necessary to make appropriate amendments and adjust the parameters of the preferential mortgage.

Finally, I consider it necessary to provide additional support to developers in the current conditions. I agree with our colleagues who said this. Not only to continue simplifying the regulatory framework, but also to launch a new programme of preferential lending to construction companies that develop territories and promote projects to create high-quality modern housing.

I ask the Government to draft such a programme and start implementing it.

We have covered our agenda for today. I want to thank you all for being well prepared for today's meeting. I know it involved hard work at all levels. I hope, I am sure that all the proposed areas of work, all the parameters will certainly be achieved.

Thank you very much.

 

[Cosmos]

Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett.

March 23, 2022 18:45

Naftali Bennett (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/672/events) shared with Vladimir Putin his assessment of the situation in Ukraine based on contacts he has had with the leaders of some foreign states and expressed some ideas regarding the ongoing talks between Russia and Ukraine’s representatives.

Vladimir Putin gave his assessments of the talks and the course of the special military operation to protect Donbass.

The President of Russia also expressed condolences over yesterday’s act of terrorism in Israel, which took several lives.

The leaders agreed to continue their dialogue.

Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council

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

March 24, 2022 14:10
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

The meeting participants discussed at length the progress in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and expressed regret over the slowness of the Ukrainian side.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/90/events) reported on the ongoing special military operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine, as well as the efforts by the Russian military to provide humanitarian aid, ensure security and restore vital infrastructure in the liberated territories.

The participants also touched upon the anti-sanctions agenda and exchanged views on the current macroeconomic situation in Russia.

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), 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), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/132/events), Defence Ministry Sergei Shoigu, 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).

Meeting with winners of 2021 Presidential Prize for young cultural professionals and for writing and art for children and young people

On Cultural Workers’ Day, Vladimir Putin had a meeting, via videoconference, with winners of the 2021 Presidential Prize for Young Cultural Professionals and the 2021 Presidential Prize for Writing and Art for Children and Young People.

March 25, 2022 16:05
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends.

First of all, I would like to congratulate you and all your colleagues on Cultural Workers’ Day. This holiday was established to honour an enormous cohort of people, true enthusiasts who dedicated their lives to Russian culture. Magnificent and inexhaustible, our culture reflects the entire diversity of the spiritual and historical legacy and traditions of our multiethnic country. It is one of the most essential foundations of the Russian state and society that strengthens our unity and develops a sense and understanding of the Motherland in our young citizens.

Russia’s cultural space was created by the hard work and talent of many generations of artists, authors and composers, actors and musicians. It is represented by a unique network of museums, libraries, cultural centres, concert venues and folk centres. In addition to the iconic Hermitage, the Bolshoi Theatre and the Mariinsky Theatre, there are thousands of local cultural facilities across Russia. Children’s theatres and libraries are another entirely Russian achievement of cultural education, available all over the country.

Address on National Guard Day

March 27, 2022 00:00

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades,

I congratulate you on your professional holiday, the Day of Russian National Guard Troops.

Established six years ago, the National Guard has become an inseparable and reliable link in the comprehensive state system of ensuring the rule of law and law enforcement, and protecting the rights and interests of our citizens.

You make a significant contribution to fighting terrorism, extremism and organised crime; you enforce public order and guard the most important facilities, achieving significant results in these and other areas of activity.

Members of the National Guard are striving to enhance the best professional traditions in their everyday service. They follow the example of and display deep and sincere respect for the veterans of the Interior Ministry Troops, Special Police Force and Rapid Deployment Police Force, the structures that became the basis of the National Guard of today.

I want to specially address the service personnel and staff of the National Guard units involved in the special military operation in Donbass and Ukraine.

Comrades,

Indeed, combat conditions involve increased risk. I am well aware of how you act in this situation: highly courageously and professionally, skilfully and fearlessly, you resolve the most complicated tasks set before you competently and precisely while showing personal heroism.

Our entire vast country is rightly proud of each of you. I want to thank you for your stamina and your impeccable service to Russia, for your loyalty to our Fatherland, to your oath of allegiance and your duty.

Once again, my congratulations to the service members and commanders, the entire personnel and the veterans of the National Guard on your professional holiday.

I wish you and your families good health, success and good luck.

 

[Cosmos]

Meeting with President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Sergeyev

Vladimir Putin had a meeting with President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Sergeyev.

March 28, 2022 13:40
The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Sergeyev, this year you will hold leadership elections, for President of the Academy. It is a good opportunity to talk about the Academy’s performance, the projects it is working on, the outlook and what else the state should do to support our science, in particular, academic researchers.

President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Sergeyev (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/544/events): Thank you for this introduction. First of all, I would like to say a few words about the main achievements of Russian scientists, primarily within the framework of fundamental research projects. Next, I would like to say what we would like the state to do to further enhance the efficiency of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

I have prepared a booklet, and I would like to begin with the most important achievements of Russian scientists.

It is very important that in 2021 we launched the first Arktika satellite. In all, four such satellites are scheduled to be put into orbit under a federal space programme. But right now we only have enough funds for two of them. The second satellite is to be launched in 2023. The thing is that this satellite will be launched into an absolutely unique orbit, a so-called highly elliptical orbit. With four such satellites, we will be able to continuously monitor the Arctic, with good spatial and temporal resolution, acquiring images of the same area every 15 minutes. We will be able to acquire approximately 2 million images a year. This is very important.

No other country has such satellites. Europe, the United States and Japan are planning to launch such a satellite no sooner than in 2028. It is a much-anticipated satellite, because to date we are mostly using information provided by foreign satellites. But now we have our own satellite of this type. We are already receiving the first images, which you can see here. It is a joint project of Roshydromet [Russia’s national weather service], Roscosmos, and the Russian Academy of Sciences is, of course, actively involved as well.

Vladimir Putin: Are you referring to the cloud chart?

Alexander Sergeyev: Yes, the cloud and ice charts. Mr President, it is extremely important to install radio-frequency imaging equipment on our satellites, and the sooner the better. The trouble is that optics cannot see the underlying surface through a cloud layer. What we need is radio-frequency imaging equipment, centimetre- and millimetre-wave radars. We are working on this now, but the satellites do not have such equipment yet. We are working with Roscosmos and other organisations to create such equipment as soon as possible, so that we can conduct observations in any weather. This is very important.

The next result of our R&D efforts is Tsiklodron, a newly designed unmanned aerial vehicle. It mimics the propulsion principle from old-time paddle steamers. With the latest automation solutions and by continuously monitoring the position of its blades and their angles, we can programme this four-rotor mechanism to perform any movements, including a vertical take-off, landing on a sloping surface, approaching a building, etc. This is the first time something of this nature has been developed. Of course, the famous Russian engineer Sverchkov suggested using this kind of propulsion mechanism more than a century ago, but this concept never materialised until now. So far, this device weighs about 60 kg and can carry only 10 kg. This is a demonstration unit. We made it at our facilities in Siberia. In fact, the Institute of Thermophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences designed this drone, with support from the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects. We believe that they formed quite an effective alliance.

Here you can see wind-channel tests at the Chaplygin Siberian Scientific Research Institute of Aviation, and to the right the drone is actually flying.

Vladimir Putin: It says here that the maiden flight is scheduled for 2023.

Alexander Sergeyev: That refers to a six-passenger aircraft, while this demonstration unit took to the air last year. It stayed in the air for quite a while, for 10 minutes. This is how long it lasts on a battery charge. However, with a hybrid power unit it can fly for an hour. It currently uses propulsors that are one and a half metres in diameter. Efforts are underway to make a manned aircraft with a take-off weight of 2,000 kilograms. It is expected to be ready to fly in 2023.

Vladimir Putin: What are the applications for it?

Alexander Sergeyev: The Emergencies Ministry and the fire-fighters are interested in acquiring these aircraft. Unlike other quadcopters and helicopters, it can approach a vertical wall so that rescue workers can get out. We were surprised by the fact that it is much quieter than quadcopters, which enhances its appeal as an eco-friendly air mobility solution.

Its enhanced manoeuvrability is very important. Having the computer steer all four rotors enables it to move along any trajectory at quite a good speed.

The third result we achieved is a bit technical but very exciting nonetheless. We are familiar with the tar issue: fuel production creates a lot of heavy residue, with entire landfills filled with it. However, there are methods for using various catalyst agents in order to recycle tar and reuse it for making fuel. It is in this field that a very interesting idea surfaced.

If we place tar, which is high in carbon and relatively low in hydrogen, into a reactor with, say, polyethylene or polypropylene waste, which are on the contrary rich in hydrogen, it produces amazing results, if we use the right catalyst agents. This way we can recycle up to 92 percent of this waste, while producing quality fuel.

This offers an environmentally sustainable solution for both kinds of waste.

Tatneft is about to launch a tar factory in Nizhnekamsk, and the next stage will be to set up a production facility for both tar and polypropylene. The Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis developed this solution.

Vladimir Putin: There is a huge market for polypropylene.

Alexander Sergeyev: Indeed.

The next result is quite modern because, on the one hand, it concerns climate trends, the warming, while, on the other, the Russian Arctic. And this is also about fishing and the productivity of Russia’s northern seas.

Last year, we had an expedition on board a research ship, the Academik Keldysh. The Kara Sea ice cover disappeared earlier than usual, and the scientists actually went there in the second half of June. They saw much greater efficiency of photosynthesis on the sea surface, because the sun is high at that time. It’s the polar day, and therefore solar radiation goes on practically all day. A great number of photons penetrate under water and set off photosynthesis. As we know, the process of photosynthesis is accompanied by carbon sequestration. It became clear that the seas in which ice melts away in late June or early July, specifically the Kara Sea, are two or three times as efficient at carbon sequestration. Meanwhile, carbon sequestration is the start of food chains that go further to ecosystems. This means that more fish can proliferate. Last year, crabbing actually started in the Kara Sea. Therefore, this is a very interesting trend, where seas are free from ice for longer periods and can capture and store carbon more actively, which means that more carbon is sequestered in food chains that raise the productivity of seas.

Vladimir Putin: The ecosystem as a whole is likely to change there, and so there will be less sequestering.

Alexander Sergeyev: You know, this is a very interesting question. I mean, where all of this eventually goes. After all, we must sequester carbon from the gaseous to solid state. It has emerged (you said so in one of your speeches, and we are glad because we have been saying this for a long time) that the sea surface sequesters no less carbon than, say, the vegetation on firm ground.

Vladimir Putin: This is why we are suggesting that this factor should be taken into consideration, too.

Alexander Sergeyev: This must be taken into consideration without fail. But it is still an open question where carbon eventually ends up in its solid state. This kind of research is in progress in the Far Eastern seas. Molluscs accumulate carbon in their shell, and this food chain leads to the situation where molluscs are grown and their protein is used for food, while their shells are what catches the carbon. Today, some countries are creating farms that grow molluscs with massive shells. This is one of the proposals as to how to enter climate projects via the sea.

Mr President, I must tell you about the latest in the coronavirus research. Obviously, in 2020, scientists were focused on developing vaccines. In 2021, we achieved certain noteworthy results concerning the development of new medication platforms. I am talking specifically about platforms. Maybe drugs for which clinical trials have not yet been completed, but these are platforms. Why? Who knows what kind of virus we will get next time? We need to be ready to fight more than just a specific virus that we may know little about. We need a universal platform and we have developed one. It is unique.

I want to briefly report on two more achievements, in the humanitarian field. A very interesting, I believe, result was achieved in Ulan-Ude. We have a collection of ancient oriental manuscripts in Ulan-Ude, at the Institute of Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies. This foundation boasts 100,000 volumes. It is the world’s largest depository of Tibetan manuscripts. They have not been deciphered. Our colleagues working with them say it takes decades for a professional to decipher one volume. They used 500 deciphered texts to teach a machine that uses AI and deep learning. Thanks to this machine learning technology, the machine learned to decipher with 94 percent accuracy.

Now we are going to streamline this process by digitising the originals for machine-aided deciphering.

Vladimir Putin: This will be a unique pool for world culture.

Alexander Sergeyev: Yes. At the same institute, at the Centre of Oriental Manuscripts, we have around 7,000 ancient Mongolian manuscripts. If we polish this technology on these languages, we can use it to translate books in any ancient language. My colleagues say that now there is a chance to decipher these 100,000 manuscripts within one generation.

Vladimir Putin: This could be absolutely remarkable.

Alexander Sergeyev: Finally, the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences created a publicly available map of Russian archaeological sites, accessible on the institute’s website. Anybody, including tourists and students, can see on the map what archaeological finds are located in Russia and where.

Vladimir Putin: So they can learn more about our tangible and non-tangible cultural legacy.

Alexander Sergeyev: Yes. It can serve as a foundation for studying tangible and non-tangible cultural legacy.

Vladimir Putin: Excellent. Sounds interesting.

<…>

126th Separate Coastal Defence Brigade receives honorary Guards title

The President signed Executive Order conferring the honorary title of Guards on the 126thSeparate Coastal Defence Brigade.

March 28, 2022 14:50

The President conferred the Guards title on the 126th Separate Coastal Defence Brigade for mass heroism, resilience and courage demonstrated by the brigade’s personnel in combat operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts. It will now be referred to as the 126th Separate Guards Coastal Defence Brigade.

Congratulations to officers and personnel of 126th Separate Guards Coastal Defence Brigade

Vladimir Putin congratulated officers and personnel of the 126th Separate Guards Coastal Defence Brigade on receiving the honorary title of Guards.

March 28, 2022 14:50

The message reads, in part:

“This is a great honour and recognition of your special merits, heroism and courage shown in defending the Fatherland and protecting the sovereignty and national interests of our country.

You can be justly proud of the history and legendary military traditions of your unit. In the most difficult areas – in the fight against terrorists in Syria, in performing peacekeeping tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh, and during the special military operation in Ukraine – the brigade invariably showed perseverance, courage, determination and strength of mind, and demonstrated brilliant examples of military duty.

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

155th Separate Marine Brigade receives honorary Guards title

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order conferring the honorary title of Guards on the 155th Separate Marine Brigade.

March 28, 2022 14:55

The President conferred the Guards title on the 155th Separate Marine Brigade for mass heroism, resilience and courage demonstrated by the brigade’s personnel in combat operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts. It will now be referred to as the 155th Separate Guards Marine Brigade.

Congratulations to officers and personnel of 155th Separate Guards Marine Brigade

Vladimir Putin congratulated officers and personnel of the 155th Separate Guards Marine Brigade on receiving the honorary title of Guards.

March 28, 2022 14:55

The message reads, in part:

“This is a great honour and recognition of your special merits, heroism and courage shown in defending the Fatherland and protecting the sovereignty and national interests of our country.

You can be justly proud of the history and legendary military traditions of your unit. In the most difficult areas – in the fight against terrorists in Syria, in performing peacekeeping tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh, and during the special military operation in Ukraine – the brigade invariably showed perseverance, courage, determination and strength of mind, and demonstrated brilliant examples of military duty.

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

 

[Cosmos]

Greetings on the 30th anniversary of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly

Vladimir Putin congratulated participants in the plenary session of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States on the 30th anniversary of the organisation.

March 29, 2022 11:00

The message reads, in part:

“The Assembly holds a prominent place in the system of Commonwealth bodies and is an effective and much needed organisation for multilateral interaction.

The exchange of best practices between lawmakers from our countries helps to boost the effectiveness of legal regulation at the national level and create conditions for promoting integration processes. In recent years, the Interparliamentary Assembly has managed to do a great deal for developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic, social and humanitarian areas, as well as in overcoming the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Importantly, the Assembly continues making an important contribution to the task of mobilising collective efforts in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, transnational crime, and other threats and challenges to international security. The systemic involvement of Assembly representatives in monitoring CIS (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/glossary/38) elections helps in full measure to implement the principles of fair representation and democratic, free voting.

I am confident that today’s anniversary plenary session will also be constructive and useful and will facilitate further intensification of joint work on the part of our parliamentarians.”

Meeting with General Director of the Presidential Grants Foundation Ilya Chukalin

General Director of the Presidential Grants Foundation Ilya Chukalin reported on the status of state grant support for NGOs over five years.

March 29, 2022 14:15
The Kremlin, Moscow

At the beginning of the meeting, the President recalled that the Presidential Grants Foundation started five years ago with 4 billion rubles whereas now it has a budget of 10 billion rubles. Vladimir Putin said it is particularly good that there are people who implement their ideas and plans in the social sphere. He emphasised that this was directly related to support for those that are waiting for help. This help arrives on time, and the funds received from the state are used efficiently.

Ilya Chukalin said the main thing is that the non-profit sector of the national economy has received unprecedented impetus for development over the last five years. Unique conditions were created for self-realisation among people in the sector that socially oriented NGOs serve.

The foundation received 110,000 initiatives and conducted an independent expert appraisal. As a result, 22,000 projects have received presidential grants for their implementation. These projects embrace many areas of social life. These 22,000 projects received a combined 45 billion rubles.

The goal to work with the regions, set by the President, was carried out. In many regions, the number of foundation-supported initiatives increased more than ten-fold.

Ilya Chukalin noted local history and support for the local historians that are engaged in this. He cited the expedition, “Respect for the ships of the Great Victory” by the Russian Geographical Society. With support from the Foundation, the expeditions have, over several years, found virtually all the ships and submarines that were destroyed or sunk in the Gulf of Finland during the Great Patriotic War (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/glossary/90).

Mr Chukalin reported that in 2017 the Foundation was the first development institution to carry out digitalisation. The applications are received and processed and all the procedures like signing contracts, monitoring, reporting and summing up the results are done electronically. The Foundation has a system for managing projects, which includes monitoring implementation progress through key control points. Vladimir Putin noted that this was particularly important considering the large number of projects.

As for summing up the results, Ilya Chukalin said that everything is subject to evaluation: the quality of implementing the projects, achieving the stated goals, and accessibility to information on support for a particular project, ways of getting support or taking part in providing assistance, that is, volunteering. Public and government agencies, experts and interested people can take part in this evaluation procedure.

Every year the 100 best projects are selected for grants, so 300 projects were awarded over three years. On the President’s instructions, those with the highest rating receive the status of performer of socially useful services following a simplified procedure, which gives them additional tax benefits and the opportunity to receive direct funding at the regional level to provide social services.

Responding to the President’s question, Ilya Chukalin told him about cooperation with the regions and co-financing of regional projects, noting that last year the Presidential Grants Foundation allocated 1.5 billion rubles that were used to support almost 4,000 projects. This year, the total was increased to 2 billion and will go to 78 regions.

Telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.

March 29, 2022 19:40

The discussion of current developments in Ukraine continued, including in the context of another round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives that concluded today in Istanbul.

Special consideration was given to humanitarian issues. The President of Russia informed his counterpart about the measures taken by Russian military personnel to provide emergency humanitarian aid and ensure the safe evacuation of civilians, including from Mariupol. It was emphasised that in order to resolve the difficult humanitarian situation in that city, Ukrainian nationalist militants must stop resisting and lay down their weapons.

Issues related to the decision to switch to ruble payments for Russian natural gas deliveries, in particular to the EU countries, were also touched on.

It was agreed to maintain contact.

Meeting with Head of Ingushetia Mahmoud-Ali Kalimatov

Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Head of the Republic of Ingushetia Mahmoud-Ali Kalimatov to discuss the regional socio-economic situation.

March 30, 2022 15:00
The Kremlin, Moscow

Mahmoud-Ali Kalimatov (http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/persons/608/events) reported that the republic’s social benefit payments in all categories were being made on schedule. A retirement home has been built for war veterans that includes all necessary medical services. The Covid-19 pandemic has been contained with help from the Healthcare Ministry; teams of specialists arrived in the republic, organised seminars and trained medical personnel. Today, every hospital has its own team of specialists. The Ministry of Industry and Trade helped the republic to obtain essential equipment, lung ventilators, the relevant clothing and personal protective equipment.

Although the construction sector is growing, there are infrastructure-related problems, including water distribution and disposal.

The President pointed out another social problem, the lack of pre-school facilities and schools.

Mahmoud-Ali Kalimatov cited the high birth rate in the republic and spoke of assistance from the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Education.

The President noted that it was necessary to keep the region’s peculiarities in mind while addressing the republic’s various issues.