Website of the President of Russia: President: Transcripts

Meeting with President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov

2026-04-23T19:47:05+04:00

Vladimir Putin had a meeting with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov in the Kremlin.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Japarov, I am delighted to see you. Thank you very much for coming.

I recall your hospitality when you welcomed our delegation in your home country. Our work was very productive back then.

I would like to note that all our agreements are being consistently implemented. Our teams on both sides are working actively and intensively, and the results of this cooperation are seen in Kyrgyzstan’s economic growth.

I am confident that your working visit today will further contribute to the development of our bilateral relations.

I am very glad to see you. Welcome.

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov: Thank you for the warm welcome, Mr Putin. I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to hold this working meeting.

We are united by longstanding ties of friendship. We have always been a strategic partner and key ally of the Russian Federation.

As you know, we are active members of a number of international organisations, including the SCO. This year, on August 31 and September 1, Bishkek will host a SCO summit. In this regard, we look forward to your visit and your participation in this event.

Today we have an excellent opportunity to discuss bilateral issues. I expect we will discuss a wide range of matters related to our bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation.

Once again, thank you for the warm welcome.

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Meeting with Government members

2026-04-24T14:01:05+04:00

Vladimir Putin chaired a videoconference meeting with Government members.

The main focus of the meeting was the development of the Russian Arctic Zone and the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. A report was delivered by Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev.

At the beginning of the meeting, current issues were also reviewed. Justice Minister Konstantin Chuychenko spoke about the provision of free legal assistance to citizens and the digitalisation of the civil registry system, while Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev reported on expanding internet access to small communities with populations of 100 to 1,000. Separate attention was given to the operation of essential services under restrictions on mobile internet in large cities due to drone attacks.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Mishustin, colleagues, good afternoon. Let’s get down to work.

You are aware that quite recently, together with some colleagues in the Government, we addressed flash floods in a number of Russian regions affected by these seasonal challenges. In this regard, I would like to draw attention to the fact that in such situations, when emergencies arise, citizens particularly need access to legal assistance, as assessments must be made of lost property and appropriate decisions taken on that basis.

I would like to ask Mr Chuychenko how this work is organised overall. Please.

Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko: Mr President, Colleagues,

Since 2020, we have repeatedly reported to you regarding the development of free legal assistance in the Russian Federation. The last such report was delivered in 2024. Allow me to present the results of this work, outline the prospects, and, of course, report on the current situation in this area in Daghestan.

Over six years, the volume of free legal assistance has increased by 77 percent, and as of the end of 2025, it stands at 650,000 cases. This growth is significant, yet, given that over 33 million people are entitled to free legal assistance, we must certainly not rest content with these figures.

We identify three areas for improving these efforts: first, enhancing legal regulation; second, developing the resource base and organisational structure; and, naturally, digital transformation.

We are currently expanding both the scope of provision of free legal assistance and, through amendments to the current legislation, the category of recipients of free legal assistance. Much has already been done in this area, with 15 amendments having been enacted. Nevertheless, we proceed from the premise that free legal assistance should be universal in nature. In other words, a person entitled to free legal assistance should receive such assistance in respect of any matter, not only those listed in the law. Naturally, this must not involve circumventing legislation or pursuing interests that are anti-social or contrary to those of the state.

Therefore, we propose proceeding cautiously and gradually in this area, as this would inevitably lead to an increase in the volume of free legal assistance. This will require a corresponding increase in expenditure.

(The Minister went on to report on the establishment of regional state legal bureaus; they have already been opened in 78 regions and handle almost half of all free legal assistance. Mobile offices are also used – namely, a GAZelle NEXT vehicle that has been refit and turned into a mobile legal assistance office. Notably, this format is used in Daghestan in the areas affected by flooding following abnormal rains, in addition to the 44 fixed free legal assistance points deployed there. People receive comprehensive advice on restoring documents and property, on claiming payments, and on procedures for receiving various forms of social assistance.

Konstantin Chuychenko also spoke about digitalisation, in particular a pilot project in 10 regions to introduce the Legal Assistance federal state information system. To date, all regions have been connected to it. The system has been integrated with the Gosuslugi Portal (unified government services portal) and contains up-to-date, reliable legal information in an accessible format. So far, 356 practical scenarios have been entered into the system, containing step-by-step instructions for the most commonly encountered real-life situations. In 2025 alone, over 67,000 requests were handled through the system. As part of the digitalisation of the civil registry system (ZAGS), the conversion of civil status registration records dating back to 1926 has been completed, totalling 520 million entries. Today, all operations of the ZAGS offices are carried out electronically. The Minister proposed measures to further improve this system.

The President expressed gratitude for the work undertaken and stated that he expected it to be continued in the same effective manner.)

Vladimir Putin: Mr Shadayev, regarding internet access in small towns and villages with populations ranging from 100 to 1,000 people – we are addressing this separately – I would like an update on the current situation. Given recent events, such as the floods and the like, this issue is particularly urgent, especially when people find themselves effectively cut off from the mainland.

Please.

Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev: Thank you.

Mr President,

Accessible high-speed internet is, of course, an essential necessity for our citizens today. It must be affordable economically, financially, and ensure fast and reliable connection for our people wherever they are.

Mr President, in your Executive Order on national development goals, you set a target of providing access to high-speed internet to 97 percent of the population by 2030.

Given the vast size of the country, this is clearly an ambitious target, especially since connecting small, remote communities is often not economically viable for telecom operators. The cost of building infrastructure is high, while the number of users is small, so the investment does not pay off.

To tackle this challenge, the Government is rolling out a comprehensive programme, the Digital Divide Elimination Programme, aimed at closing the gap between rural and urban areas when it comes to access to digital services.

Let me say at the outset, Mr President, that this is a unique infrastructure initiative. It is funded entirely through targeted contributions from telecom operators, which are pooled into a dedicated fund to cover the cost of building the necessary infrastructure. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the telecom companies for their support – Russia’s telecom sector is arguably one of the most socially responsible in the economy.

During the first phase of the programme implementation, we funded the rollout of fibre-optic networks to communities with populations of 250 to 500 people. By the end of 2021, these lines had been installed in 13,500 communities, reaching more than four million residents.

True, according to the All-Russian Population Census data we received in 2022, the number of communities in this category has decreased: some of them have grown, while others have diminished. However, all the communication lines that were built remain in operation, and usage levels are consistently stable, confirming strong demand for this infrastructure.

In 2021, we embarked on the second stage of this programme. By 2030, we plan – as you rightly pointed out, following the expansion of its scope – to deploy fourth-generation mobile broadband infrastructure, known as LTE, in all small localities with populations ranging from 100 to 1,000 people. To this end, we are already financing, and will continue to finance, the installation of corresponding base stations in small localities.

Naturally, the programme covers those localities where mobile network operators have not deployed this infrastructure themselves. Initially, there were 15,500 such localities.

It is evident that high-speed mobile internet represents a practical technological solution: there is no need to pay for laying the cable to one’s house; all devices can be connected directly to the base station.

Mr President, it is important that we determine the annual connection plan based on the results of a public vote. Quotas are allocated to the regions, but specific localities are selected by residents. They can cast their votes by submitting a request through Russian Post or by voting directly on the Gosuslugi (Public Services) Portal.

Four such selection rounds have now been completed: more than three million citizens voted, and we have identified 8,000 localities which have since been connected to mobile internet. Over 1.8 million people now reside in these localities, with approximately 600,000 using mobile internet on a daily basis; this represents one in three residents. This attests to the high demand for this programme.

Accordingly, over the past four years we have addressed half of the total requirement. We intend to maintain this rate of progress. In total, approximately 350,000 to 400,000 people will gain access to high-speed mobile internet each year.

I would also highlight another achievement that, I believe, is of considerable significance. In recent years, we have started installing domestically manufactured base stations. As you are aware, we had never manufactured them before. Currently, 20 percent of base stations in rural areas are of Russian manufacture. Naturally, these incorporate components of foreign origin; however, the use of Russian software and control systems means that they may now be classified as domestically produced.

We face three challenges. Firstly, given the size of our country, there are still localities – especially in the Far North and the Arctic – that are very difficult to reach with physical channels. Therefore, we are eagerly awaiting satellite internet.

You know everything about the low-orbit constellation. I would further observe that four years ago, the Ministry of Digital Development secured funding and allocated it to Roscosmos for the construction of four spacecraft designed to operate in highly elliptical orbits and to provide high-speed internet coverage to our northern territories, all along the Northern Sea Route. In effect, we are expecting these spacecraft next year.

At the moment, we are laying fibre optic cables. Last year, we allocated a fairly substantial budget, again from this fund, to build 7,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable in Yakutia and in the northern regions, in order to provide connectivity to more than 45,000 residents living there.

Our main way of establishing a communication link to small towns is by running fibre optic cables along the existing power line infrastructure. But here, of course, we run into one problem. After the grid operator adjusted its rates, the Ministry of Digital Development is now paying eight times more from the project budget to lease these power line supports: previously, we paid 2,000 rubles per kilometre; now we are paying 16,000. In other words, we now spend one billion rubles a year just on leasing power lines for the cable to reach these small communities. Given that this is a social programme, one might reasonably consider whether discounted leasing terms could be applied. Any savings we can make could then be used to connect more communities.

And the third point. In our towns and villages, especially those in border areas, near Ukraine, or near strategically important facilities, mobile high-speed internet is patchy. This is clearly due to electronic warfare, and there are regular outages because of the threat of drone attacks. So our proposal here is to go back to older technology: in these communities, we will fund the installation of cables directly to specific users, to individual households. I am confident there is a critical mass of users. This year, we will collect applications via the Gosuslugi (Public Services) Portal and then shift focus to physical connectivity in these towns and villages, keeping the mobile infrastructure in place, but refocusing on that.

And to conclude, I’d like to say this: it is probably stating the obvious, but census data has shown that in communities where affordable, high-speed internet has arrived – and the affordability bit is very important – the outflow to cities has slowed significantly or even stopped altogether. That’s because the same quality of life, in terms of access to digital services and digital benefits, can now be achieved in rural areas just like in the city.

That is why it is vital for us to continue this programme. And more broadly, we need to ensure stable operation of high-speed mobile internet in cities as well, while of course recognising that security comes first.

Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.

This constitutes work of considerable importance – ensuring rural communities have internet access is, without question, in exceptionally high demand. As you have just observed, residents of rural areas must not be deprived of access to the benefits of technological progress. On the contrary, they need to have access to more new options for a comfortable life, employment, education, advanced medical care, and personal fulfilment. As you have just noted, even relocation to urban centres is slowing down. This is only natural, as people feel they are part of the shared agenda, of the life of our vast country. I ask you to continue this work.

However, I must draw attention to issues that people also encounter in major urban centres – albeit infrequently, but, unfortunately, it happens; I refer to certain problems and disruptions in internet service even in major metropolitan areas.

Naturally, where this is linked to operational measures to prevent terrorist acts – and we acknowledge that, unfortunately, such attacks do occasionally occur – ensuring the safety of our people, our children, our loved ones and every citizen of Russia, will always be our top priority.

In this regard, I would simply like to note that, of course, in such circumstances, it is necessary to ensure that the public is kept informed, although I understand that, when operational measures are underway to prevent criminal acts or terrorist attacks, the premature dissemination of information to the wider public may compromise the operational work, given that criminals, after all, likewise hear and see everything. And, undoubtedly, should any information reach them, they will adapt their criminal conduct and modify their plans accordingly.

At the same time, first, at the very least, following the conclusion of such operations, people should be informed about what has happened.

Secondly, it is imperative that close coordination be maintained between law enforcement agencies and civilian government bodies, in order to identify optimal solutions.

Moreover, we invariably expect that law enforcement agencies themselves will exercise the requisite ingenuity in their work, demonstrate high standards of professionalism and take into account the vital interests of the country’s citizens, in whose interests we all operate.

What further measures are required, and what would I like to draw attention to? We need to develop a mechanism to ensure that vital services operate without interruption. As is well known, even with mobile phones, when there is no credit on a user’s account, emergency calls may still be placed. In the case of mobile internet, it is necessary to adopt a comparable approach. In other words, even during periods of general restrictions, the Gosuslugi portal, payment services, and medical appointment services must remain accessible, especially as we have the technological capability to ensure this. We must make full use of it.

Mr Shadayev, I ask that you – and a corresponding instruction will be issued to law enforcement agencies specifically – pursue this matter together with your colleagues.

Thank you.

Let us now proceed to the main item on our agenda.

Colleagues,

Our agenda today is focused on our comprehensive joint activities in the development of Russia’s Arctic regions, the Russian Arctic. I have spoken many times about the special strategic importance of that region for Russia, for our economy, for building up Russia’s industrial potential, and for ensuring national security and sovereignty.

I would also like to emphasise the growing role of the Arctic in the global context or more precisely, for the global environment, fuel, energy and raw materials sectors, and for enhancing the stability of international trade and logistics ties.

In particular, the significance of the northern trans-Arctic route as the safest, most reliable and efficient route is becoming increasingly evident amid the global supply chain disruptions due to numerous conflicts, including the current conflict in the Middle East.

It is also evident that geopolitical competition and the struggle for positions in the Arctic zone are growing too. I would like to repeat what we have said many times before: we are ready for cooperation, not for competition and confrontation, but for cooperation with all interested countries. At the same time, we will invariably protect, and will undoubtedly protect our national interests in the Arctic. By maintaining peace and stability in that strategic region, we will ensure its long-term socioeconomic development, improve the quality of life for our people, and preserve the inimitable culture of the indigenous peoples of the North and the unique Arctic nature.

We have already launched this challenging work. Projects for the extraction and deep processing of natural resources in the North and for expanding its industrial capacities are underway. We are strengthening the logistics network of the Arctic, including sea and river ports, railway lines, roads and airports. We are coordinating and will implement plans to connect the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor to the Russian rail network and river waterways, as well as to expand and build new port terminals and shipbuilding facilities.

And, of course, our key objective is to improve the quality of life in the Arctic by bringing education and conditions for work, recreation and raising children up to present-day standards.

The Arctic Mortgage programme has already been extended until 2030, offering an annual interest rate of two percent. This offers significant help to families in the North, and to those who come here to live and work.

Work has begun on implementing the master plans for Arctic zone conurbations. And I should say, this work is progressing well and already showing results.

These and other objectives were set out a year ago at the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue forum in Murmansk. Following the forum, a list of instructions was drawn up, which included an agreement to update the Arctic zone development strategy and prepare a financial and economic model for the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor.

I have to note, unfortunately, that this work is still not complete. Today, we will discuss how these and other shared plans and Presidential instructions are being implemented, and consider whether any organisational solutions are needed to speed up progress.

At the same time, I want to stress again: this is a major, complex undertaking from a management perspective. It involves all levels of government, including the relevant State Council commissions, the Maritime Board, Rosatom state corporation, VEB.RF as our leading development institution, and other structures and entities.

It is crucial that their efforts are properly coordinated at both federal and regional levels, and that the planned investment projects in the Arctic are linked together, producing a genuinely comprehensive and systemic effect for the development of Arctic cities and territories, and for the people living in the Russian North, Siberia, and the Far East.

It is worth recalling our own domestic experience. For example, the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway at the turn of the 20^th century, and later, the development of the Northern Sea Route, were conceived and delivered as integrated projects. They gave a powerful boost to entire industries and regions, laying the groundwork for new cities, new enterprises, and major industrial centres.

Let’s now move on to the discussion of this issue. I know my colleagues have been preparing for it, and I would like to hand over to Yury Trutnev, who, I should add, is doing a huge amount to put all our plans into action.

Mr Trutnev, go ahead, please.

Deputy Prime Minister – Plenipotentiary Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev: Thank you very much.

Mr President, colleagues,

The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is a territory of strategic importance for the economic development and national security of our country. Thanks to the decisions you adopted in 2020, very attractive conditions for investment have been created in the Arctic, including the world’s largest preferential zone with an area of five million square kilometres. Over the past five years, more than 1,000 Government-backed projects have been launched in the Arctic zone. Total investment planned for the region in the next 10 years exceeds 30 trillion rubles. The development of the Arctic is directly connected with the Arctic projects of Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, NorNickel, Novatek, LUKoil, PhosAgro and other leading Russian companies.

Their products constitute the main volume of cargo transported via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor. Over the past 10 years, freight traffic via the NSR has increased from 4 million to nearly 38 million tonnes. As per your instructions, the Government is working to further develop the NSR. Four nuclear icebreakers and six emergency rescue vessels have been built, and three hydrographic vessels have been modernised in accordance with the plan. Five hydrometeorological and radar monitoring satellites have been put into orbit.

Under the plan, another four nuclear icebreakers and at least 10 emergency rescue vessels are to be built, and 12 satellites are to be launched by 2035. Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev will report on the financing of the nuclear icebreaker programme.

Another task is to provide the Northern Sea Route with ice-class transport vessels and dredging equipment. The concerned agencies have been instructed during a meeting of the State Council Commission on Arctic Development to prepare their proposals as soon as possible.

Following the 2025 International Arctic Forum, you have issued instructions to prepare a transport and economic model of the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, which includes the Northern Sea Route, the waterways connected with it, and other elements of the transport infrastructure. The Government is working on the future freight traffic model. The authorities, state corporations and the regions are calculating the required scope of work involving the construction and purchase of vessels, and the construction of railway lines, river waterways and the necessary infrastructure. We will update you on the results.

All Arctic projects are delivered by people. Our key task is to create comfortable conditions for their life and work in the Far North.

In line with your decisions, a number of laws and mechanisms successfully tested in the Far East are now being applied across the Russian Arctic Zone. These include the unified presidential subsidy, preferential mortgage programmes, the Arctic Hectare initiative, and a programme for affordable rental housing. Master plans for core towns and communities have also been developed and are being implemented.

These plans were drawn up with input from residents. The issues of greatest concern are healthcare (57 percent), utilities infrastructure (43 percent), as well as roads and housing (39 and 36 percent, respectively).

Of the 516 measures included in the plans, 78 focus on the construction and modernisation of utilities infrastructure, 33 on healthcare facilities, 77 on transport and logistics, and 80 on science and education.

To date, more than 100 facilities are already under construction or undergoing modernisation. The total funding required through to 2035 amounts to 2.9 trillion rubles, of which 60 percent is expected to come from extra-budgetary sources.

Over 70 billion rubles have been allocated from the federal budget for 2026–2028 to support the implementation of these master plans.

In line with your instructions, several funding sources have been secured. These include five national projects, each with dedicated sections incorporating 45 Arctic master plan measures, with total funding of 113 billion rubles. A limit of 30 billion rubles has been allocated in special treasury loans. At least 5 percent of spending under sectoral state programmes will also be directed towards financing the master plans. Their implementation will significantly improve quality of life and create conditions for new investment projects.

Since 2024, a renovation programme for closed administrative-territorial entities has been under way, with annual funding of 10 billion rubles. As per your instructions, this programme will be extended to 2030 and expanded to cover all Arctic regions where military units are stationed.

The timely delivery of goods under the Northern Supply Haul programme is crucial for the livelihood of people in the North. Deliveries under this programme amount to 4 million tonnes of cargo, worth over 200 billion rubles. Under the Federal Law that was adopted, Northern Supply Haul cargo has priority status. The number of containers delivered late has fallen by more than 90 percent in the two years since the law was enacted.

All communities in the region are supplied with fuel, food and essential goods. Most cargo is delivered to remote and hard-to-reach areas by water. This year, Rosatom-Arctic – the single maritime operator for Northern Supply Haul – began operations. The company is responsible for developing routes and shipping schedules, and for transporting cargo. However, the operator currently leases vessels, and faces shortages and high levels of fleet depreciation. The average age of sea vessels is over 25 years, and river vessels over 45 years. To improve reliability and reduce transport costs, we ask you to consider providing the single operator for northern deliveries with its own fleet.

The entire Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is covered by permafrost. What’s more, climate warming in the Arctic is almost three times faster than the global average, which creates safety risks.

At your directive, a state-run system for background permafrost monitoring has been rolled out in 12 regions. We are currently working with the Russian Academy of Sciences to establish a unified scientific monitoring centre.

We continue to implement the development programme for the Arktikugol trust on the Spitsbergen archipelago. Direct passenger service between Murmansk and Spitsbergen was launched in June 2025. An international research and academic centre is also being established to expand the research base.

Mr President, I propose naming the educational centre on the Spitsbergen archipelago after the renowned Arctic explorer, Artur Chilingarov.

All Arctic development work is being carried out in accordance with your Executive Order On the Basic Principles of State Policy in the Arctic and the Strategy for Developing the Russian Arctic Zone.

At your directive, an updated draft Strategy has been prepared, taking into account the geopolitical changes of the past five years. The Basic Principles of State Policy and the Strategy have been combined into a single document: Russia’s Development Strategy through to 2050.

Work on developing Russia’s Arctic zone will continue.

Thank you for your attention.

Vladimir Putin: Good. Thank you very much.

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Ceremony to present state decorations

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

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

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All the best to you, and congratulations.

(Ceremony for presenting state decorations.)

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Vladimir Putin: Friends,

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

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

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

Thank you very much!

Russia-Seychelles talks

2026-04-22T18:28:35+04:00

Vladimir Putin held talks at the Kremlin with President of the Republic of Seychelles Patrick Herminie, who has come to Russia on a working visit.

The agenda included current issues pertaining to the development of bilateral cooperation in the political, trade and economic, and humanitarian spheres, as well as international and regional issues.

Taking part in the talks on the Russian side were Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office – Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut, Minister of Transport Andrei Nikitin, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Governor of the Central Bank Elvira Nabiullina, Deputy Minister of Defence Vasily Osmakov, and Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces – Deputy Chief of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, colleagues, friends,

First of all, I would like to express gratitude to you, Mr President, for accepting our invitation to visit Russia. This year, we will mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between our countries. It is pleasant that these celebrations begin with your visit to the Russian Federation.

The volume of our trade and economic ties is so far modest, of course but there is room for improvement, and your visit is timely in this context.

We maintain very good relations on international platforms. We coordinate our positions, and we are grateful to your country for supporting many Russian initiatives at the UN.

The number of Russian tourists in the Seychelles is growing, and our tourists account for at least 15 percent of the tourist flow. It is a good indicator, but there is scope to increase the number of our tourists in your country. We would like to thank you for creating favourable conditions for our citizens. We will talk about this later. I have invited my colleagues from the Government and the Central Bank to this meeting. We have a great deal to talk about, including the development of the tourism sector.

We maintain humanitarian contacts, and I am confident that the unique culture of your country will certainly spark the interest of the Russian public.

Your representatives attended the Russia–Africa Forum. We are preparing for its third meeting, and I hope that Seychelles will take part in the third high-level forum.

Thank you again for your visit. I would like to congratulate you on the success of the election campaign and your victory in the presidential election. I have sent you a message regarding this, but I am delighted to personally congratulate you during your visit.

Thank you.

President of the Republic of Seychelles Patrick Herminie: Your Excellency, Mr President,

Thank you very much for inviting me to Russia. Indeed, it is a privilege to be in your beautiful country, and in Moscow, in particular.

As you rightly pointed out, ours is a longstanding relationship dating back to 1976, when we obtained independence. Russia, then the Soviet Union, was among the first countries to recognise our independence.

Since then, we have had various forms of cooperation, from military to sport, and it has spanned over four decades. Indeed, our relationship can only be described as one which is very close.

We are very appreciative of the fact that in this very difficult moment, as a result of the war in the Middle East or West Asia, Russia has again shown its friendship by helping us last week, and we know that tomorrow there will be more help coming our way. We are very grateful for that, and we will not forget that.

With regard to tourism, today Russians are among the greatest number of arrivals in our country. In this very difficult moment, Aeroflot has played a very, very significant role in ensuring that tourists keep coming. As a result of this war, the number of tourism arrivals has gone down by 40 percent, mainly because the Gulf airlines like Emirates, Qatar and Etihad – they have stopped flying or they have reduced their flights altogether.

We look forward to continuing with that relationship, especially when it comes to training and capacity building. In fact, many of our professionals have trained here in Russia over the years. At a very critical moment for us, when we needed professionals to ensure nation-building, Russia was there to help us.

In sport as well – next year we will be participating in some regional events, and we expect the help of Russia in terms of exchanges and training coaches to ensure that we come out first.

So yes, we will continue to be close friends. We will continue to stand by Russia as a good friend, and you can rely on us for support in difficult moments.

Thank you once again for inviting me and my delegation to your beautiful country. So far, we have been treated very, very well. No complaints. So far, everything is so good. I will end on this note.

Thank you very much, Mr President.

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Meeting with municipal officials

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

Vladimir Putin held a meeting with municipal officials.

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

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

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

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

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

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

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

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

<…>

Service nationwide municipal award ceremony

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

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

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

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

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

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

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

Friends,

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

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

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

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

Colleagues,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Applause.)

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

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

(Applause.)

Colleagues,

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

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

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

We can proceed with the ceremony now.

(The awards ceremony begins.)

Service award winner Yevgeny Filonov: Mr President, friends.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I will meet with some of our colleagues shortly.

Congratulations and my best wishes.

Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council

2026-04-17T19:19:59+04:00

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

Taking part in the meeting were State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, and Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon,

Today, we will discuss an issue that we address on a regular basis: interaction with our closest neighbours, the CIS countries.

We have always had, and I believe will continue to have, a special approach to this cooperation, both for historical reasons and due to the extensive work we carry out together with these countries, including economic cooperation.

These are our neighbours, and over the decades we have developed unique ties in the cultural and humanitarian spheres and in the human dimension: there are numerous mixed families, many shared interests in culture and other areas of fundamental importance.

With that, I would like to invite Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to begin our discussion. I am certain that our colleagues from the relevant sectors will have much to contribute and add to the report that he has prepared.

Please, Mr Lavrov.

<…>

Meeting on economic issues

2026-04-15T18:27:50+04:00

Vladimir Putin held a meeting on economic issues.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko, Deputy Prime Ministers Tatyana Golikova, Alexander Novak, and Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Chief of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Head of the Federal Taxation Service Daniil Egorov, Head of the Federal Customs Service Valery Pikalyov, and Chairman of PSB Bank Pyotr Fradkov.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

We continue our series of meetings on the current state of the country’s economy, its key sectors, and the public finance system. At the same time, I believe it is essential to keep focusing our efforts on developing specific measures to stimulate growth and on crafting effective responses to the trends that have been emerging recently.

Statistics show that economic growth has, unfortunately, been slowing for two consecutive months. Overall, GDP contracted by 1.8 percent between January and February. Manufacturing and industrial production as a whole have suffered losses, as has construction, a strategically important sector.

Yes, experts point to calendar effects, weather conditions, and seasonal factors as the reasons for this negative performance. As I mentioned at our last meeting, we are fully aware that in January this year there were two fewer working days than last year, and in February, one fewer. These are, of course, objective circumstances, but it is clear that they are far from the only factors shaping business and investment activity in the country.

I expect to hear detailed reports today on the current economic situation and on why the trajectory of macroeconomic indicators is currently falling short of expectations. This is not only below experts and analysts’ expectations, but also below the Government’s own forecasts and those of the Central Bank.

As I have already said, I look forward to hearing proposals for additional measures aimed at restoring growth in the domestic economy, supporting business initiatives, and improving the employment structure in favour of industries with more productive jobs that generate high added value.

In this connection, I note that despite the overall economic momentum, the unemployment rate remains low. It currently stands at 2.1 percent. This, among other things, suggests that our labour market is changing, with flexible, platform-based employment on the rise.

These and other objectives are reflected in the Plan for Structural Transformation of the Russian Economy. The Government prepared it last year and has begun implementing it. Today, we will discuss how this plan is being put into practice and what might need to be clarified, added, supplemented, or strengthened in light of the current situation.

We will also discuss the state of public finances separately. We have repeatedly emphasised the importance of maintaining a balanced budget, preserving its sustainability and its focus on development, including in the face of sharp fluctuations in foreign markets. We are monitoring this closely and observing what is happening. The Government has prepared appropriate measures. We will discuss them today.

<…>

Meeting with Rosseti CEO Andrei Ryumin

2026-04-14T15:51:27+04:00

Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Chairman of the Management Board, Director General of Rosseti national grid company Andrei Ryumin.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Ryumin, Rosseti is the largest grid company, a strategic enterprise without any exaggeration, where the state owns 77 percent. What can you say about its performance?

Rosseti CEO Andrei Ryumin: Mr President, I would like to begin with the current situation at the company and the group’s performance in 2025.

Rosseti operates in 82 Russian regions and transmits 80 percent of electricity generated in Russia through its networks. We currently employ slightly over 235,000 people. The group’s revenue last year exceeded 1.8 trillion rubles.

The Rosseti group is one of the largest taxpayers in the country. In 2025, we paid over 270 billion rubles to the budgets of all levels. The group’s net profit in 2025 exceeded 200 billion rubles, and our profit less impairment was nearly 300 billion rubles. This is very important for us, because net profits are the main source of investment in the future. The growth of net profits will allow us to reduce the funding shortfall for investment and project implementation as part of the national grid network development programme.

Our 2025 investment programme was estimated at 725 billion rubles. We have built over 35,000 kilometres of transmission lines.

Vladimir Putin: Within a year?

Andrei Ryumin: Yes, we have built over 35,000 kilometres of transmission lines in 2025.

Vladimir Putin: Very good.

Andrei Ryumin: We have also commissioned about 15,000 MVA of transformer capacity. As for overall grid connection, we have connected 340,000 new users to the grid in 2025.

As regards the current year, our investment programme is provisionally planned at approximately 900 billion rubles. Within this framework, we are planning new construction, as well as the modernisation and reconstruction of existing grid facilities. We are employing, and will continue to employ, new technologies in order to implement a number of projects under the investment programme.

The first example I would cite is that of high-capacity energy storage systems. In this area, our primary equipment supplier is the Rosatom State Corporation, and we are implementing this project in collaboration with them. A further project I would like to mention is that of direct current power transmission. We have already commenced design work, and this project is now at the implementation stage.

Under the investment programme, we are paying particular attention to those regions where electricity consumption is exhibiting very rapid growth. Among these are regions such as Moscow, the Moscow Region, the Krasnodar Territory, and the regions of the Far East.

I would like to say a few words about what one might describe as new consumers for us – the technological connection of data processing centres of various kinds. Demand has recently been growing apace for the power supply to such data centres. This is, needless to say, attributable to digitalisation, the development of digital technologies, digital services, cryptocurrency mining, and artificial intelligence. In numerical terms, to date we have already connected two gigawatts of capacity for consumers of this type. Based on the applications we presently have before us, we will connect more than three gigawatts of capacity in the near future.

Vladimir Putin: In addition.

Andrei Ryumin: In addition. That is, we have already connected two gigawatts – we are examining the applications being submitted – and in the near future we will connect a further three gigawatts. This constitutes, very likely, the fastest-growing segment in terms of demand for power supply amongst all consumer categories.

With regard to import substitution, we utilise domestic equipment in practically every project involving new construction, modernisation, and reconstruction. I believe I will not be mistaken in stating that the Rosseti group is presently the largest consumer of Russian power equipment manufacturers.

A matter of great and, perhaps, paramount importance for us is that of the reliability of power supply.

Vladimir Putin: Are you augmenting funding for repairs?

Andrei Ryumin: We are augmenting funding on an annual basis for the repair programme. This year, it will amount to – and I anticipate that it will exceed – 135 billion rubles. Under the repair programme, special attention is, naturally, devoted to the creation of an emergency stock: this comprises an emergency stock of equipment and an emergency stock of materials, and we are also expanding and modernising the fleet of special-purpose vehicles.

I would like to provide two rather telling examples. In essence, while we speak of those regions where electricity consumption is growing, we cannot omit to mention the regions where climatic conditions are changing and the incidence of hazardous natural events is rising.

The first graphic example is the Murmansk Region. To speak candidly, an extraordinary situation arose there during the winter. The ice and wind loads that had been allowed for during the construction of the lines were exceeded by a factor of several.

The second example concerns heavy downpours in late March in Daghestan. These downpours – which were reportedly the most severe in the past 100 years – resulted in a very serious flooding of our substations, leading to the situation where nearly half a million people were cut off from supply at the peak of the incident.

Mr President, ensuring a reliable power supply and maintaining operations in new territories, as well as in the border areas, remains a top priority for us. At present, around 2,000 specialists are working in these newly integrated regions, while approximately 8,000 more are deployed across the Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk regions. The situation is extremely demanding. Energy infrastructure is subject to frequent and ongoing attacks, and our personnel often operate in conditions comparable to those in active combat zones. Despite these challenges, we are doing everything possible to promptly restore damaged facilities and return electricity to people’s homes.

Mr President, in closing, I would like to briefly highlight our social initiatives and our work in developing human resources. We currently partner with more than 300 leading specialised educational institutions, including universities and specialised colleges, across 50 academic programmes. Within these programmes, we support student training, and each year over 10,000 students complete internships at our company’s branches. I can confidently say that many of them – likely the majority – choose to continue their careers with us after completing their training and internships, which is, of course, very encouraging.

Our company also runs a dedicated employee support programme, developed as part of the Family national project. Within this initiative, we place particular emphasis on supporting young families and addressing demographic challenges. It is clear that housing is the primary concern for young families, so our efforts are largely focused on helping them meet this need. In addition, we provide a range of financial incentives, direct payments, and other forms of assistance.

A key priority at present is supporting the employment of veterans of the special military operation. We are closely overseeing this effort: first and foremost, those who were previously employed within our group are being reinstated in their positions. At the same time, we are actively working to recruit and train veterans who are interested in entering the electric power industry, helping them acquire a new speciality and build a new professional path.

Mr President, that concludes my report.

Thank you very much for your continued support of the energy sector, and of our electric grid complex in particular.

Vladimir Putin: As I understand it, in terms of network length and overall investment, your commitments in the new regions are quite significant – greater than in some other regions.

Andrei Ryumin: Yes, absolutely. Our investment programme in the new regions is indeed very large. It is extensive both in terms of network length and capacity, including a substantial scale of substation construction.

Vladimir Putin: Is this primarily the result of damage from combat operations, or of long-term underinvestment in grid infrastructure?

Andrei Ryumin: It is a combination of both.

The condition of the grid infrastructure in these regions does not match the standards of neighbouring areas, particularly those closer to the border. Moreover, the situation is further aggravated by ongoing attacks, which cause additional damage. As a result, significantly greater investment is required.

Vladimir Putin: Have you been able to meet the targets set for these areas over the past year?

Andrei Ryumin: Yes, Mr President.

Vladimir Putin: Good, thank you.

<…>

Russian-Indonesian talks

2026-04-13T18:54:02+04:00

Vladimir Putin held talks in the Kremlin with President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, who is in Russia on a working visit.

The agenda of the talks includes the current state and prospects for strengthening the Russian-Indonesian strategic partnership, as well as current international and regional issues.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends,

First of all, thank you for accepting our invitation and coming to Moscow.

My dear friend, I am very pleased that our contacts are regular and underscore the special nature of our relations. We have recently signed a declaration to this effect, and it is already taking on practical form.

This strategic nature is manifested, above all, in the economic sphere. Last year, our trade grew by 12.5 percent. Regrettably, at the beginning of this year, there was some adjustment, but our intergovernmental commission is actively working. I hope that your visit will help us find the necessary solutions to ensure stability and renewed growth this year.

Our colleagues on both sides as well as you and I have repeatedly identified the most promising areas of cooperation: energy, space, agriculture, industrial cooperation, and pharmaceuticals.

We attach great importance to developing humanitarian ties, including in culture and education. Of course, our foreign ministries also maintain close and active coordination across international platforms.

Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS, which opens up additional opportunities for cooperation, including between Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union.

My dear friend, we are very glad to see you. Welcome.

President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto (retranslated): Thank you very much, Your Excellency, Mr President.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your willingness to meet with me on such short notice. I am truly grateful that you were able to take time out of your busy schedule for this meeting.

Although only a few months have passed since our previous meeting, I have already engaged with numerous Russian delegations visiting Jakarta and held a number of meetings in Moscow. Prior to today’s discussion, I also met with representatives of Russian government agencies and companies, and I believe these exchanges were productive.

The primary purpose of my visit today is to express our sincere gratitude to you personally, as well as to the Government of the Russian Federation, for the support extended to the Republic of Indonesia, particularly for the swift timeframe in which Indonesia was able to join BRICS. I would also like to convey my appreciation for your personal support on issues of key importance to Indonesia.

We are already witnessing tangible progress across nearly all areas of cooperation that we discussed during our previous meeting. At the same time, certain areas require additional coordination, and I stand ready to be personally involved in order to accelerate the implementation of these projects. This applies, first of all, to financial transactions, where I am also prepared to take all necessary steps to expedite the process to the fullest extent possible.

One of the key objectives of my visit today is, of course, to consult with you on the current geopolitical situation. We recognise Russia’s significant and constructive role in shaping today’s geopolitical landscape, particularly amid the prevailing uncertainties.

In this context, it is especially important for us to engage in joint consultations, exchange views on future developments, and identify priority areas for further cooperation, particularly in the economic and energy sectors.

Once again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your willingness to meet with me on such short notice. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations on the recent celebration of Easter, as well as on another very important occasion: Cosmonautics Day, which holds great significance not only for Russia but for the entire world. It is noteworthy that in Indonesia, many prominent individuals have been named Gagarin or Yury.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you, Mr President. I believe your visit is both timely in the context of current global developments and important for further strengthening and deepening our bilateral relations.

Once again, thank you for being here in Moscow today.

It is particularly meaningful to receive Easter greetings from the head of state of the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. We are a multi-confessional nation, and we traditionally celebrate religious holidays together with our compatriots of different faiths, including Muslims.

Thank you.

<…>

Meeting with Roscosmos General Director Dmitry Bakanov

2026-04-12T16:37:10+04:00

The President held a working meeting with General Director of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities Dmitry Bakanov ahead of Cosmonautics Day.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Bakanov, first of all, congratulations to you, all Russian cosmonauts and everybody involved in the space industry, on this holiday. This year, we mark the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s spaceflight. Last year was generally positive for the industry, with 17 launches and 97 spacecraft launched. The consolidated revenue grew by 10 percent and exceeded 500 billion rubles. I believe it amounted to 508 billion. So, overall, the industry is doing quite well. I know there are plenty of problems that have accumulated over a long period of time. What do you think about its current state and prospects? Which areas require additional support?

Dmitry Bakanov: Mr President, I will report in a minute.

First, I would like to thank you, on behalf of the entire industry, for the Space Week that was your gift to us, and for the executive order that established the Space Week, raising awareness of all industry workers.

We held more than 1,000 events for dozens of millions of people. Those were educational, cultural, awareness, and sporting events. For example, the Znanie Society held a Talking of What Matters lesson for 21 million school pupils and college students. More than 12 million Russians watched space films in cinemas. The Space Week has returned the space discourse to our society.

Now, I would like to go over the performance statistics that we managed to achieve in 2025 and over the first months of 2026.

As you have already mentioned, last year, we held 17 launches, plus five more this year so far. The launches took place at three space launch centres, Plesetsk, Vostochny and Baikonur, using four launch vehicles: the Angara and Proton heavy-lift launch vehicles, the Soyuz medium-lift launch vehicle, and the Angara 1.2 small-lift launch vehicle.

Right now at Baikonur, we have a brand-new launch vehicle for the first time since 2014. Soyuz-5 is the launch vehicle for the project with our Kazakhstani partners called Bayterek. All assembly units and equipment are currently in the testing phase. The launch vehicle has already been lifted vertically. It is now undergoing pre-launch horizontal calibration.

In the next slide, you can see the statistics regarding the orbital group that has reached 364 spacecraft. As you have said, 97 were launched last year. During the first quarter of 2026, 134 were launched.

Perhaps the biggest long-awaited event took place two weeks ago. Our low-orbit broadband connection group of satellites was set up to operate in every corner of the planet and, of course, Russia.

Vladimir Putin: It is a momentous moment, congratulations once again.

Dmitry Bakanov: Thank you very much. But it is not just us who deserve congratulations – the private companies making this project happen do as well.

We say space is above politics – yet our so-called friends did everything they could to prevent this launch. There were some serious incidents, including attacks on the space launch centre that day, but nevertheless, the joint combat crews of Roscosmos and the Space Forces carried out their mission.

We also maintain a fully operational Glonass navigation system of 24 spacecraft, with five in reserve. If any of them reaches the end of its active life, we can replace it immediately.

Vladimir Putin: I think you once said that to maintain a stable, reliable constellation, [we need] about 27 spacecraft.

Dmitry Bakanov: The system has a full specification of 24 satellites, sometimes with an additional orbital reserve of three, but right now we have five on the ground. If something goes wrong, we can launch one or two more. But for now, everything is working smoothly.

Mr President, I would like to turn to the next section – something of particular importance: the development of private space exploration. This is being delivered as part of the Space National Project. We are receiving tremendous support from the Government, including Mikhail Mishustin personally, and Denis Manturov as well. And, as you directed, last year, the corresponding federal law, Federal Law 540 On Earth Remote Sensing Data, was passed, making this service a paid one, and the relevant funds have been allocated.

How does this mechanism work? Private companies produce the equipment that transmits data and video services. This data is then purchased, allowing private companies to recoup their investments.

This has stimulated the emergence of a number of new players. Sputnix was already in the market, with about 40 AIS satellites – identification systems for maritime vessels. Six Zorky optical-electronic Earth remote sensing satellites were also in operation, and they are now engaged in high-resolution imaging. MT-Lab and Stilsoft are also active in this segment. Geoscan and Novy Kosmos are developing services in this area too.

Among government agencies, the most active is the Federal Registration Service, which uses this data for the cadastral register. The Emergencies Ministry is a major customer, as is the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, along with its subordinate agencies and federal executive authorities such as the Federal Agency for Management of Mineral Resources, the Federal Service for Natural Resources, and the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.

I will also specifically mention the New Start project. It’s a joint project…

Vladimir Putin: Sailors definitely need something like this.

Dmitry Bakanov: Exactly. I have already named the main ones. We have radar data for both Northern Sea Route and Rosatom. But the most important customers are the Federal Registration Service, the Emergencies Ministry, and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

A few words about the New Start project. Currently, private investors are putting tens of billions of rubles into it. And just this week, we agreed on an eight-year investment of 600 billion rubles. Where will this money go? First, into the conversion of the Topol. Together with the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering and the legendary General Designer Yury Solomonov, we are preparing for a launch and developing a rocket for launching satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms into a 500-kilometre orbit from the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

The second investment area is telecommunications satellite construction. They are currently consolidating a number of assets in this field – outside Roscosmos’s purview but still within the space industry – and, as I have already mentioned, they will invest approximately 600 billion rubles in the development and production of launch vehicles, including a reusable one.

To ensure that our economic performance can compete with all the leading developments worldwide, we are working with the Government and a number of state agencies to develop a mechanism for implementing this properly.

Vladimir Putin: When do you expect to do it?

Dmitry Bakanov: The first launch of the New Start conversion rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome is expected in the first quarter of 2027. The consolidation of the satellite construction assets outside Roscosmos’s scope is expected by the end of 2026. As soon as we polish up the conditions in cooperation with the Government and the other state agencies, the first round of investment is expected to come in, also by the end of this year. This sort of investment is a great reinforcement for us right now.

I will briefly give you the main details on the manned programme. Last year, the final decision was made to tilt the orbit. As you know, and Mr Manturov explained it to you in detail, the decision was made after the Bion satellite of the Russian Academy of Sciences was launched – and we appreciate Gennady Krasnikov’s efforts – into the polar orbit. The radiation level turned out to be higher. Our task is to extend missions so that crews can remain in orbit for as long as possible. But it would simply be impossible due to higher radiation levels.

Vladimir Putin: Was the dispute resolved?

Dmitry Bakanov: Yes, we held a presidium meeting at the Russian Academy of Sciences with both civilian and military participants.

Vladimir Putin: How long can the crew remain in this high-altitude orbit?

Dmitry Bakanov: Right now, up to 270 days. I believe we can reach 365 days easily.

The radiation is 20 percent higher at the previously determined orbit. Therefore, Mr President, we can’t risk the cosmonauts’ health or cut missions short.

Mr President, the next section focuses on the improvement of our space launch centres. As you know, there was a long-term construction project at Vostochny, for the Angara launch pad. To be more precise, as Marat Khusnullin reported to you, the structure itself was 90 percent complete, but the final start-up and commissioning phase was considerably dragged out on paper.

Mr President, the day before yesterday, we received construction statements, and yesterday, we signed an operation permit for the Angara launch pad. So, that is done.

We plan to launch three more important and serious facilities into operation by the end of the year. They include an airport facility, an assembly and testing centre for Angara rockets, and an enroute facility on Sakhalin to support the launch of launch vehicles from Vostochny. We are working with our contractors to ensure they meet the deadlines as they have slightly missed some here and there.

Regarding Baikonur, thanks to your executive order, we have fixed the unfair practice around housing…

Vladimir Putin: Will they finish the new launch pad at Vostochny by the end of 2026?

Dmitry Bakanov: Yes, of course. It is going according to schedule. Because it is a rollout launch pad, it needs a different infrastructure from stationary launch pads, so the works are underway as planned. The funds have been provided in sufficient amounts. General Designer of the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering Yury Solomonov is inspecting this cooperation every month. You have to give him credit, he does not cut anybody slack. He will check everything.

Thanks to your executive order, we have fixed the unfair practice around housing certificates for special military operation veterans. Now they are priority recipients.

Vladimir Putin: Do you mean those living at Baikonur?

Dmitry Bakanov: Yes.

Now, a brief overview of the industry’s key figures. The rocket and space industry currently employs 165,000 people across around 110 enterprises in 33 regions of the Russian Federation. Crucially, about 10,000 of them already work for more than ten private commercial space companies. Salaries have increased by 16 percent over the past year, averaging 118,000 rubles.

We have also rolled out a project – a consortium of Roscosmos-affiliated universities, which now includes 28 institutions. In Moscow, the best-known are Bauman Moscow State University, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow State University, and the Moscow Aviation Institute; in St Petersburg – Baltic State Technical University; in Samara, Samara National Research University; and in Krasnoyarsk, the Siberian State Aerospace University.

Vladimir Putin: By the way, how is the city itself coming along at Vostochny? There were issues there, and we were planning to address them, including the construction of residential buildings and social facilities.

Dmitry Bakanov: This year, two social facilities have been completed, two buildings with 215 flats – and the keys have been handed over. Another 250 flats across two more buildings are also due to be finished soon.

Vladimir Putin: I suggested earlier looking into merging some of those social facilities with Gazprom companies operating in the area.

Dmitry Bakanov: Yes, an urban cluster is being formed there jointly with both Gazprom and Novatek. And we are working very closely on this with the governor, Vasily Orlov. That is helping to ease some of the pressure.

Vladimir Putin: That should create synergy – a useful synergy.

Dmitry Bakanov: Absolutely. They will be expanding in any case, so this evolutionary cluster will take shape naturally.

Vladimir Putin: Excellent.

Dmitry Bakanov: Now, in terms of enterprise operational efficiency. Clearly, we need to increase output per person. That is impossible without robotics and cutting-edge digital manufacturing solutions. We launched GigaChat into orbit to help cosmonauts, so they no longer have to write reports. Instead, they just dictate what is happening during experiments, and artificial intelligence translates that into reports and transmits them to Earth.

We also installed the MAX messenger, and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov uses it to talk to his family and contact our press service. He sends the space images from orbit via MAX.

But the most important thing for us is to start using artificial intelligence for design and modelling. Even now, computer modelling has made it possible to reduce engine firings – for example, instead of five, they do two real firings and simulate the other three on a computer. This significantly cuts the cost of operating and preparing equipment for launch.

Vladimir Putin: Good, as long as this does not come at the expense of reliability and quality.

Dmitry Bakanov: That is why we are working hard to ensure that mathematical modelling can translate 100 percent into analysis and design. Why? Because the world is moving at a breakneck speed: design is happening fast, and more importantly, so is implementation. With generative design, you can immediately send certain parts to additive printing, which is exactly what we are actively introducing at our engine-building holding companies. These include Energomash, the Chemical Automatics Design Bureau in Khimki and Voronezh.

What is more, we are currently moving a serial production facility from Khimki to Perm Motors, because we have managed to open a state-of-the-art production site there.

Vladimir Putin: Mr Bakanov, how long have you been in this role?

Dmitry Bakanov: One year and two months.

Vladimir Putin: You clearly know the ropes, and I think you have already found your feet in the industry.

Dmitry Bakanov: What choice did I have? It is a noble mission, so thank you for the trust. I am doing everything I can to live up to it.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

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Meeting with Krasnodar Territory Governor Veniamin Kondratyev

2026-04-11T14:51:19+04:00

Late last evening, Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Krasnodar Territory Governor Veniamin Kondratyev.

The President began the meeting with highlighting the Krasnodar Territory’s major contribution to ensuring the country’s food safety, and asked about the progress of the sowing campaign.

According to Veniamin Kondratyev, the sowing campaign is proceeding successfully. A total of 1.8 million hectares have been allocated for winter crops; the seedlings are in good condition, and soil moisture levels are sufficient to expect a strong harvest. The spring sowing campaign is scheduled to be completed by May 1.

The region is fully supplied with fuel, lubricants, and fertilisers, which, according to the governor, will further support a positive harvest outlook.

Vladimir Putin asked about the reasons behind the decline in agricultural production recorded in 2025. Veniamin Kondratyev suggested that this was largely due to the wheat harvest, which totalled 11.2 million tonnes and was affected first by recurrent frosts and subsequently by drought conditions.

According to the governor, the Krasnodar Territory is the national leader in terms of agricultural production, including milk production, and is among the top five regions for vegetable, fruit, and meat output.

Veniamin Kondratyev also updated the President on the situation in the agro-industrial complex: 100 percent of wheat, rice, and soybean seeds are domestically produced. The governor added that just six years ago, all seeds were imported.

The President asked about the outlook for the region’s resort season following the oil spill in the Kerch Strait. Veniamin Kondratyev noted that, due to measures taken under the supervision of the President and the Government, Anapa is expected to once again receive its full number of tourists this year. Vladimir Putin added that all beaches in the Krasnodar Territory could be open this season, a possibility the governor supported.

Veniamin Kondratyev also reported that local grape seedling production has quadrupled over the past six years, while 6,500 new vineyards have been created in the region. He noted that, following the adoption of legislation on viticulture and winemaking, a distinct economic sector has taken shape in the region.

In addition, the economy of the Krasnodar Territory has become more diversified, with more than 2,300 IT companies established there over the past four years.

According to Veniamin Kondratyev, the regional domestic product is also showing growth: in 2021, it amounted to 3 trillion rubles, in 2022 to 3.5 trillion rubles, in 2023 to 4 trillion rubles, in 2024 to 4.7 trillion rubles, and in 2025 to 5.8 trillion rubles. The President found these figures positive.

Meeting on development of AI technologies

2026-04-11T14:57:27+04:00

The President chaired a meeting on the development of artificial intelligence technologies at the Kremlin.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

Today, with the involvement of top Russian technology companies, we will review the progress of our joint efforts in the field of artificial intelligence. Together with many of those present here, we return to this topic in various formats and settings on a regular basis. Just at the end of last year, during Sber’s specialised conference (is Mr Gref present here?), as well as at the meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects, we had an extensive discussion of the exceptional and far-reaching importance of the work to develop and widely implement of these solutions.

I want to emphasise once again that artificial intelligence, along with digital platforms and autonomous systems, is shaping an entirely new landscape for the economy, public relations, the social sphere, education, healthcare, logistics and industry, as well as defence and security – in essence, for the life of the nation as a whole. The sovereignty of the Russian state in the near future – and, without exaggeration, its very existence – depends on our ability to keep pace with these global transformations.

It is also crucial to recognise the rapid pace of advancement in artificial intelligence technologies. Foundation language models and neural networks with immense computational capacity are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Until recently, such systems were tested primarily on their ability to process encyclopaedic knowledge. However, this year, during specialised evaluations, they have demonstrated remarkable capabilities for deep, interdisciplinary analysis.

Next, language models are used to create intelligent assistants, so-called artificial intelligence agents, or AI agents. They no longer simply execute specific commands and answer simple user questions; they also solve tasks assigned to them autonomously, largely without human intervention.

Crucially, these AI agents are already approaching a new level of independence. They are learning to plan their actions, evaluate outcomes, and interact both with people and with the real world. Over the past year, a notable threshold has been reached in a certain sense: in the majority of experiments, participants perceived machine responses as genuine dialogue with a real interlocutor. In other words, these systems have demonstrated the ability to convincingly imitate humans and their cognitive and even emotional behaviour.

It is expected that in the near future, such agents will also be capable of passing physical-world tests. For example, it may become difficult to determine whether a vehicle is being operated by a human driver or an autonomous AI pilot.

This underscores a key point: the widespread deployment of language models – and, obviously, their development and scaling – are of fundamental importance for the country’s future.

Experts who are present here today are well aware that the development of these language models and AI agents often relies on so-called open-source solutions, with shared libraries of algorithms created through global collaboration among developers. This cooperative resource should, of course, be used effectively.

I would like to emphasise that language models constitute a foundational, cross-cutting technology underpinning sovereign development across all sectors. Only if we have domestic models we can ensure technological progress, as well as maintain security, defence capability, and – which is vital – stay on the cutting edge in scientific and engineering fields, particularly given that our country is among the few states that boast unique competencies in this domain.

For this reason, I believe it essential to provide conditions for the creation and continued development of domestic foundation artificial intelligence models. These systems should be globally competitive while also ensuring a high degree of technological sovereignty. This implies that the full cycle of development and training should be carried out by domestic companies, enabling our engineers to have full control over key parameters of such complex systems.

I would like to make a quick remark here. To my colleagues with whom I have already met and discussed this very important and sensitive topic: please don’t be alarmed. We have gathered here today precisely to address all the details and nuances. If we borrow something from our partners, we must ensure that any further steps in building artificial intelligence architecture will guarantee solutions to security and defence challenges. We will discuss these topics now.

I would like to ask the Government to develop the financial architecture for this ambitious, nationally significant project. All relevant stakeholders must be involved in its implementation: the government, private technology companies, and, obviously, state-owned enterprises. We should also make full use of the potential offered by our defence and security programmes. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by the experience of countries that are leaders in artificial intelligence. We are familiar with this experience, including how state-owned companies operate abroad, including defence authorities, and how they allocate resources to implement such programmes. In pursuit of the objectives of defence agencies and special services, finances are allocated and both public and private funding is mobilised; this approach overall delivers strong results.

Colleagues, I would like to emphasise the practical application of advanced technologies. I have already instructed the Government, jointly with regional authorities, to develop a National Plan for the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence at the country level, with due regard for the needs of industries and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. By 2030, these technologies and products based on them should be deployed across all sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, energy, public administration, and education.

I know that the Government and legislators are currently working on the regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. I would like to stress once again that regulation must be designed to encourage and accelerate the creation and adoption of advanced technologies rather than to constrain or slow down development. If we introduce barriers at this stage, we will inevitably fall behind in economic, technological, social, and public development.

I want to emphasise again that we are talking about ensuring the widespread, comprehensive adoption of artificial intelligence and the creation of a domestic market for such solutions in Russia. This is a priority for both domestic businesses and, of course, for federal and regional authorities.

I believe that heads of ministries and agencies should report annually on the outcomes of artificial intelligence implementation in their respective sectors. I am not referring to formal written reports, but to open, public presentations showcasing the actual solutions in use. This year, we will hear from our colleagues at a specialised exhibition as part of Sber’s annual AI Journey conference.

Colleagues, I would like to say a few words about the future organisation of our work. The commission chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin will be responsible for shaping the strategy and ensuring systemic coordination of efforts in the field of artificial intelligence. The Commission members also include representatives of the Presidential Executive Office, ministries and agencies, leading technology companies, and the State Council. The relevant executive order has already been signed.

I would like to ask the Commission to review and propose comprehensive solutions this year, including in the following key areas.

First, the development of programmes for the accelerated deployment of artificial intelligence across priority sectors of the economy and the social sphere, as well as in public administration.

Second, the entire human development system, from primary education to the labour market, must be aligned with the extensive adoption of artificial intelligence. It is essential to promptly modernise training and retraining mechanisms, as well as levels of education, to reflect the emerging technological paradigm.

Third, given the expanding use of artificial intelligence in sensitive sectors and its growing overall impact on individuals, society, and the economy, I consider it crucial to assess the main risks and threats associated with such systems and to identify timely measures to mitigate them.

Fourth, the development of domestic artificial intelligence solutions for national defence and security. Once again, we must possess cutting-edge technologies and rely on sovereign, domestically developed products. I have already mentioned certain nuances and specifics in this regard, which we will now, of course, discuss further.

Fifth, the creation of a comprehensive framework to promote Russian artificial intelligence systems and related services in international markets, as well as to expand cooperation in this strategically important field with our partners in the CIS, SCO, and BRICS.

Let me reiterate that I expect the Commission to consolidate the efforts of business, the scientific community, and the government, and to serve as an effective coordinating centre for the advancement of artificial intelligence in our country.

Let us proceed to discuss the proposed issues. Mr Grigorenko, please go ahead.

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Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko

2026-04-10T12:14:33+04:00

Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko briefed the President on the progress of digitalisation of government services.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Grigorenko, I propose we begin with the development of the Gosuslugi system. I know you would like to report on a number of other issues as well. Let’s get started.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko: Mr President, you pay close attention to the quality of government services. The government is actively improving them. We are currently working to digitalise government services. This is important because it greatly simplifies access to these services and eliminates bureaucracy. And it is simply very convenient.

Today, the Gosuslugi portal has become something of a calling card, even on a global scale. Other countries compare the range of services we offer on the Gosuslugi portal and the way we deliver them with their own systems.

Currently, over 112 million people are registered, and 14 million people use the Gosuslugi portal daily to access services. The portal offers over 1,600 government services, and our current focus is on standardising the existing ones, not just adding new services.

Vladimir Putin: You are making it more user-friendly.

Dmitry Grigorenko: Yes, we are creating “life events”. We also have a dedicated project for their development. We currently have 70 such events, with more and more being added every year. Over 72 million people have already used them. This represents stratospheric growth over the past two years – the user base has increased a hundredfold.

By grouping government services into life events, we reduce the number of documents required to obtain a single independent government service (or a service within a life event) by almost 90 percent. Processing times are also reduced by over 80 percent. At present, the average time to receive services within a life event is three days, compared to 16 days for individual government services. The number of visits is falling, people are very satisfied with this, and they are demanding new life events and new digital government services.

Please look at the third slide, which shows the top six life events in demand today. Our traditionally top-ranked service is the comprehensive “Online University Admissions” service. We provided 10 million of these services in 2025. In second place is receiving a tax deduction. Third place – and this is important, as we only launched this life event last year – is retirement. To date, this service has been used 6 million times. Sixth is “Hunting and Fishing”.

Vladimir Putin: People receive certificates about…

Dmitry Grigorenko: Not just certificates.

Vladimir Putin: What else? What can this website do?

Dmitry Grigorenko: From complete guidance on the retirement process, from obtaining a pension certificate and becoming a pensioner, to a full range of benefits, statuses, confirmations, social cards, and so on – it is all available. First, users can find out what they are entitled to. Second, they can apply for everything in one go through the Gosuslugi portal, including registering with all social institutions and the Pension Fund. It really is very convenient.

There is also another important issue which has become a global problem today, namely cyber fraud – fraud conducted via the internet.

Acting on your instructions – you issued the relevant instruction last year – we have been actively engaged in combating cyber fraud, developing a set of measures aimed at tackling it. Looking at the statistics, over the five-year period from 2019 until the end of 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of crimes committed using information technologies has increased 2.5-fold, from 294,000 to 765,000. Accordingly, the scale of the damage has also grown.

Vladimir Putin: Excuse me, so in 2019 it was 294,000 cases, and in 2024 it reached 765,000?

Dmitry Grigorenko: Yes, a 2.5-fold increase. The figures for damage are shown on the next line – these are Interior Ministry statistics. According to Sber, the figures are even higher, although Sber’s data is analytical, whereas the Interior Ministry’s statistics are…

Vladimir Putin: The trend is enormous – almost a fivefold increase.

Dmitry Grigorenko: Last year, together with colleagues from law enforcement agencies, the Interior Ministry and the Central Bank, we conducted joint work; State Duma deputies also actively contributed. We developed a comprehensive package of measures aimed at combating cyber fraud. More than 20 specific measures were proposed; they entered into force on April 1, 2025.

Let me highlight what are probably the most effective measures. There is now an option to impose a self-ban on taking out loans. What is the aim of fraudulent schemes? To obtain access to personal accounts, for example, by stealing passwords, and then to take out a loan in someone else’s name. Now, with a single click, for instance via the Gosuslugi portal, where the relevant service is available, it is possible to prohibit calls from banks and telecom operators via messaging apps, as fraudulent activity typically begins via messaging platforms. The call is made not through a landline, but via a messaging app. This has now been prohibited by law, and people can recognise that if they receive a call through a messaging app, it is most likely fraudulent – callers may, for example, pose as bank employees or representatives of other institutions.

Call labelling has also been introduced; this measure has proven to be in high demand. In practice, when a call is made by an institution or organisation, the screen displays not a string of digits but the name of the organisation. Accordingly, if a call is ostensibly from, say, a local clinic, but the name does not appear on the screen, it is clear that this is likely a fraudulent attempt.

We are also making active use of biometrics. This is a voluntary measure, applied when taking out microloans, setting passwords, and so on. Criminals may obtain passwords and documents through deceptive means, but a person’s biometric data, such as facial recognition, is much harder to steal or falsify. This, too, is therefore a highly effective measure.

Vladimir Putin: What is the Antifraud platform?

Dmitry Grigorenko: Antifraud is a digital platform to which banks, telecom operators and law enforcement agencies can submit information whenever they detect or record fraudulent activity. Any participant can upload such data so that all others are immediately aware they are dealing with a fraudster.

Vladimir Putin: So others can use it to identify a fraudster.

Dmitry Grigorenko: Crucially, telecom operators, law enforcement agencies and banks all see this information straight away. Previously, the problem was that a fraudster would deceive a customer at one bank, then move on to another, which had no idea they were dealing with the same individual, and then to a third. Each case was handled in isolation. The platform allows any participant to flag a suspected fraudster as soon as they are identified.

Vladimir Putin: So it is accessible to all participants.

Dmitry Grigorenko: Yes, and we are continuing to expand it. We are now also developing risk-scenario profiles, where we can predict that an individual is likely to be a fraudster and share that information via the platform. At the same time, it is important to understand that citizens themselves must remain vigilant – this is a set of measures designed to help them avoid being deceived.

Following the first package of measures, the number of crimes committed using ICT fell for the first time – by 12 percent in 2025. Accordingly, the total amount of damage is also declining.

According to survey data, 50 percent of Russians reported a decrease in fraudulent calls, while 92 percent consider call labelling to be a highly effective measure.

Vladimir Putin: The total damage is decreasing.

Dmitry Grigorenko: Yes, for the first time the overall losses are also going down. We have managed to reverse the trend. The services we have introduced, for example, the self-ban on loans, illustrate this well. Since March 2025, 26 million people have activated such a ban. It can be done with a single click and is highly effective. Even if a person is deceived, fraudsters cannot take out a loan in their name because of the ban: loans can only be obtained in person at a bank, which fraudsters cannot do.

Vladimir Putin: A self-ban on issuing new SIM cards as well.

Dmitry Grigorenko: Yes, this is also an option.

Vladimir Putin: Do fraudsters actually obtain SIM cards themselves?

Dmitry Grigorenko: The essence of online fraud is to obtain your personal data – login details, passwords and so on – and then use them to take out a loan or register a SIM card in your name. That SIM card can then be used for identification with a bank, to receive passwords, and so forth. Ultimately, it all comes down to money – either stolen through loan schemes or transferred by the victim themselves. That is why these self-bans are such important tools: people can use them independently, and they are doing so actively.

This [slide] shows how the Antifraud platform operates. We continue to develop it and are working closely with the Central Bank and law enforcement agencies.

We are currently preparing a second package of measures. The bill has passed its first reading, and we are now preparing amendments for the second reading. The key point I would like to highlight is that we want to introduce a so-called red button service on the Gosuslugi portal, which alerts the authorities as soon as a citizen realises they have been scammed. What is the main problem? The victim is on the phone with the fraudster, they hang up, and only then do they realise they have been deceived. Where are they supposed to go? File a complaint? Contact an official? That crucial window of time plays right into the scammers’ hands.

Vladimir Putin: Fraudsters use that time to withdraw money.

Dmitry Grigorenko: Exactly. And what we are proposing is a set of measures whereby pressing the red button on Gosuslugi immediately notifies everyone, including banks and telecom operators, that a scam has taken place.

We also only allow passwords on Gosuslugi to be changed using a verified method.

Vladimir Putin: Could you say a few words about children’s SIM cards?

Dmitry Grigorenko: Children’s SIM cards. We want to give parents the right to purchase appropriate SIM cards, which would allow them to restrict certain content for children accessing the internet on their phones using those SIM cards. That includes blocking access to websites unsuitable for children, as well as restricting calls from unknown numbers, and so on. This is a measure we are proposing for parents. Many telecom operators, by the way, are already offering similar features. We want to formalise this and make it a system-wide approach. It is also very effective, because, unfortunately, children are even easier to deceive than adults.

Vladimir Putin: What about a system for banks and operators to compensate victims for losses?

Dmitry Grigorenko: We are currently discussing this actively with the Central Bank. If information about a fraudster is recorded and available in the information system, the Antifraud platform, and, despite that information, a telecom operator connects a call from the fraudster, resulting in the person being defrauded, or if a bank, knowing that the Antifraud platform contains such information, issues a loan and completes the transaction, then compensation for losses will be automatically assigned to the bank or telecom operator that made the error.

Vladimir Putin: This means we view a bank or telecom operator as a high-risk instrument, a high-risk entity. Similar to a car, where all else being equal, the driver is always at fault.

Dmitry Grigorenko: But here, it is not always the driver’s fault. We provide banks with all the tools and clearly set out in the law the specific circumstances under which this automatic charge applies. We are trying to start with clear-cut cases to create a financial incentive for both banks and telecom operators to protect citizens.

Vladimir Putin: This still needs some refinement, of course. But overall, from the perspective of protecting citizens’ interests, it is fair.

Dmitry Grigorenko: Yes, the balance here is tilted in favour of protecting citizens’ interests.

<…>

Meeting on flood relief efforts in Daghestan

2026-04-08T11:05:41+04:00

Vladimir Putin held a meeting, via videoconference, on flood relief efforts in the Republic of Daghestan.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon,

Today, as agreed, we will discuss in detail the issues related to the disaster relief operations in the Republic of Daghestan. We are talking about the heavy spring flooding and torrential rains that caused widespread flash flooding in the Republic.

I would note that in just one day – March 30 – Daghestan had the equivalent of three months’ worth of precipitation. Since meteorological observations began – in 1882 – such figures have never been recorded in the region, never. Due to the abnormal weather, on April 5, an earth dam of the Gedzhukh Reservoir burst in the Derbent District. As a result, residents of several communities were evacuated. Unfortunately, there are casualties, and there are fatalities.

In several municipalities, electric power supply has been disrupted, and road infrastructure, including bridges, has suffered significant damage. Due to the risk of landslides and mudslides, traffic has been halted or is impeded on several road and rail sections.

We must keep this situation under constant control. On April 6, reports on the situation were heard from Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov and from Head of Daghestan Sergei Melikov, and an instruction was issued to promptly provide assistance to the affected people. According to the reports, sufficient forces and resources have been mobilised overall to deal with the aftermath of the flooding – at least, that is what I heard from the report. Emergencies Ministry staff, together with colleagues from other federal agencies and law enforcement bodies, are acting in a coordinated manner. Volunteers are actively assisting them. For this, friends, I would particularly like to thank you.

Today, in addition to the Head of the Republic of Daghestan, and at my request, the heads of the most affected municipalities are taking part in our meeting: specifically, the city of Makhachkala, and the Derbent and Khasavyurt districts. I would like to hear your views on how the disaster relief effort is proceeding, what further assistance is needed from the Emergencies Ministry and other federal agencies, and which construction, road-building, and other specialised organisations need to be brought in.

Let me stress: federal, regional and local authorities must provide all necessary support to the victims. People need to receive help and support; they need to be kept constantly informed of the current situation; their complaints and appeals must be taken into account and responded to promptly; and those in need must receive timely medical and legal assistance. Naturally, we must keep the epidemiological and sanitary situation in the disaster zones under control, as well as carry out damage assessment. This is a challenging task; it must be carried out carefully, working on an individual basis with each affected family. In short, we must act professionally and consistently.

Let us begin our work. Please report on the current situation and on the measures taken to deal with the aftermath of the disaster at this very moment.

I give the floor to Head of the Emergencies Ministry Alexander Kurenkov. Please, go ahead.

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Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, here is what I would like to say in conclusion.

We should establish a special government commission on flood relief efforts in the Republic of Daghestan. We talked about these aspects in detail just now. The commission should include representatives of the federal authorities, the region’s senior officials, and a deputy of the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the North Caucasus Federal District.

I have asked Magomed Ramazanov to attend our meeting today. Mr Ramazanov, you are working in the Far East now, but I would like you to go to Daghestan to work as a deputy Plenipotentiary Envoy in your home region. I believe that your knowledge and understanding of the situation, and your ability to communicate directly with the people will be essential.

The commission will be chaired by the Minister for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief.

I have noted that the republican authorities have set up 51 working groups for damage assessment. These people will directly communicate with the affected families to assess the damage.

I would like to ask you to give individual attention to each family and each situation. I understand that the registration of some facts will be incomplete and others will be improperly documented, as is almost always the case in such situations. Of course, these problems must be dealt with, but this should be done calmly and, needless to say, in accordance with the law. But our key priority must be to help people without delay. I ask you to give priority attention to this.

I hope that the Commission, which will be set up without delay – I would like the Government to issue the relevant document today, will start working immediately and effectively, addressing the region’s problems and helping the people.

I would like to receive regular progress reports. Is this point clear, Mr Kurenkov?

Minister for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief Alexander Kurenkov: Yes, Mr President, understood.

Vladimir Putin: Good.

Thank you. That will be all for today.

Meeting with Aeroflot CEO Sergei Aleksandrovsky

2026-04-06T17:09:08+04:00

Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of Aeroflot – Russian Airlines Sergei Aleksandrovsky.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Alexandrovky, I reviewed the materials ahead of our meeting. I can see that, overall, the company performed well last year, with solid results. Passenger traffic was up, not significantly, but still up. Seat occupancy increased, and so did the profit margin. Overall, the financial position is sound.

I would like to discuss this in more detail and hear your assessments. After that, I would like you to report on the condition of the aircraft fleet and on social programmes.

Please go ahead.

Aeroflot CEO Sergei Aleksandrovsky: Mr President,

I would like to report on the Aeroflot Group’s performance in 2025. One of our key objectives was to maintain passenger traffic at the 2024 level, which we did. As a group, we carried 55.3 million passengers. Seat occupancy has also increased by 0.6 percentage points to 90.2 percent which is a historically high figure for Aeroflot. The average annual level for our business model typically stands at 82–85 percent, whereas we are now operating at over 90 percent of seat occupancy.

Overall, under the circumstances and taking into account the specifics, including maintaining serviceability, the group is operating at maximum capacity.

Increasing the company’s capitalisation is another priority. In this regard, we focus greatly on financial performance. By the end of 2025, revenue stood at around 900 billion rubles, representing an increase of approximately 5 percent compared to the year before.

I would also like to note that, for the first time since 2019, Aeroflot paid dividends in 2025, having posted a net profit (also for the first time since 2019). Dividends were paid based on the 2024 performance. We plan to propose dividend payments to shareholders for 2025 as well.

Vladimir Putin: This will immediately boost the company’s value and appeal.

Sergei Aleksandrovsky: You are right. Enhancing capitalisation is among our top priorities as well.

As for the aircraft fleet, the total number of aircraft is 352, including three operated under a wet lease agreement.

The serviceability of the aircraft fleet remains at an optimal level, comparable to 2019, despite ongoing constraints affecting airworthiness maintenance. This has allowed us to achieve strong operational performance, with total flight hours exceeding one million across the fleet. From 2023 to 2025, the average annual growth rate reached 8.9 percent. This performance is supported in part by the high calibre of our engineering staff. Our subsidiary, Aeroflot Technics, employs approximately 2,000 engineers and has the capacity to service up to 19 aircraft simultaneously in its hangars. This integrated approach ensures the efficient operation of the fleet.

I would also like to highlight the development of our regional operations and overall route network. In 2025, the network structure remained largely unchanged, with a greater focus on increasing frequencies on existing routes.

The balance between international and domestic traffic was broadly consistent with 2024: we carried 42 million passengers on domestic routes and 13.4 million on international routes.

One of the new routes we actively developed in 2025 was Nha Trang, Vietnam. We launched flights not only from Moscow but also from several regions across the Russian Federation.

In line with your priority of increasing the share of flights bypassing Moscow to at least 50 percent, Aeroflot Group achieved 63 percent in 2025. In total, our network comprises 297 routes, 186 of which operate bypassing Moscow, significantly improving transport accessibility for residents in the regions.

With regard to our key operating bases, Sheremetyevo Airport remains our primary hub. It is not only the leading airport in the Russian Federation but also among the leading airports in Europe, supported by advanced infrastructure and a well-developed IT platform. Our close operational integration at Sheremetyevo further enhances efficiency and supports our core activities.

We also continue to develop our Krasnoyarsk hub.

Vladimir Putin: It is increasingly developing as a hub, correct?

Sergei Aleksandrovsky: Yes, Krasnoyarsk is steadily growing. In 2025, we increased traffic there by 10 percent, and together with Moscow-connected flights, we carried approximately 2.4 million passengers through Krasnoyarsk. The hub currently serves 34 destinations.

The resumption of flights to the previously closed southern airports of Gelendzhik and Krasnodar was another landmark event in 2025. In 2025, we used these airports to carry 500,000 passengers. From Krasnodar, we operate flights to 13, including five international, destinations. In 2026, we plan to increase passenger traffic through these airports to 1.5 million, thus tripling the 2025 number. Importantly, though, these airports opened closer to mid-year in 2025.

One of our key priorities, including under our strategy to 2030, which was updated in 2025, is, of course, engaging with personnel, namely, enhancing employee satisfaction and involvement, which directly affect productivity and service quality. In terms of productivity, we have achieved strong results, reaching around 7 million seat-kilometres per employee, with an average annual growth rate of 17.8 percent in 2021–2025.

Vladimir Putin: Wages are rising as well, correct?

Sergei Aleksandrovsky: The average salary increased by 26.9 percent in 2025. We started doing this primarily for operational staff back in 2024 and continued in 2025. So this represents solid growth. The average salary at Aeroflot now stands at around 270,000 rubles.

Vladimir Putin: That is mainly due to flight crew salaries, correct?

Sergei Aleksandrovsky: You are right. Pilots’ salaries are the highest among our staff and significantly affect the overall figure.

As I mentioned earlier, the Aeroflot Group’s strategy was updated in 2025. The main priorities include operational growth and financial sustainability, with passenger traffic growth primarily driven by fleet expansion. We plan to expand the fleet through the introduction of new domestically produced MS-21 aircraft.

Client-centricity and improving service quality is another focus area. While Aeroflot has traditionally maintained high standard in this regard, we will continue raising it.

And, of course, digital transformation and the introduction of innovative technologies. We have set ourselves an ambitious goal of incorporating AI into up to 50 percent of the corporate business processes.

Vladimir Putin: What does “improving the client experience at every stage of the journey” actually mean? What does “improving the client experience” mean?

Sergei Aleksandrovsky: We have broken down our clients’ travel experience step by step starting from the ticket search to the time the passenger is on board. There are certain areas where we can still do better. We identified these growth points and will work on them to achieve an average Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 75 percent. That is a very high benchmark. We are currently at around 72 percent, and each additional percentage point at this level is significantly harder to achieve. We will continue working towards this end.

In 2025, we also saw an increase in the number of minor passengers aged 2 to 12, partly due to the introduction of a standardised 50 percent discount. The number of children transported within the borders of the Russian Federation rose from 2 million to 2.4 million. After all, they are our favourite passengers.

Vladimir Putin: Do you think people were responsive to this?

Sergei Aleksandrovsky: Yes, they were. I believe it was the key factor behind the higher number of passengers in this age group.

In keeping with tradition, I would like to conclude my report with the flat-fare programme for 2025. Last year, with your approval, we made slight adjustments to the fare structure and expanded the number of cities in the Far East served by the programme. In total, 2.3 million passengers travelled under the flat-fare scheme, including 1.5 million on Far Eastern routes. This represents a 12 percent increase compared to 2024, once again reaffirming the programme’s effectiveness.

Vladimir Putin: Good.

Sergei Aleksandrovsky: I would also like to express my gratitude to Chairman of the Board of Directors Vitaly Savelyev and to the Minister of Transport, with whom we maintain very close working contact, both on strategic matters and even on day-to-day operational issues.

Vladimir Putin: Overall, the Aeroflot Group feels confident. Are you satisfied with last year’s results?

Sergei Aleksandrovsky: We always strive to improve, but overall, we are satisfied with how we concluded the year.

Vladimir Putin: This programme you mentioned, which focuses on identifying areas for improvement and analysing the entire work chain, from ticket search to onboard service, encompassing everything related to passengers, baggage, and service quality, is certainly very important. It is essential that this work continues.

Sergei Aleksandrovsky: Yes, it is an ongoing process, and passengers clearly appreciate these efforts.

<…>

Meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty

2026-04-02T16:51:29+04:00

Vladimir Putin met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt Badr Abdelatty in the Kremlin.

Attending the talks on the Russian side were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, while Egypt was represented by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation Hamdy Shaaban.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Mr Minister,

We are delighted to welcome you to Moscow. Just a couple of days ago, I had the pleasure of talking with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss both bilateral cooperation and the broader regional developments. At the same time, maintaining regular dialogue remains very important to us.

I know that you have a busy schedule of meetings with your Russian counterpart, Minister Lavrov, as well as with other senior Russian officials. I am confident that these engagements will contribute positively to the development of our bilateral relations.

We have a number of promising initiatives underway, many of which are already being implemented. I have previously spoken in detail about the construction of a nuclear power plant and an industrial zone, and over ten major Russian companies have expressed interest in participating in this project.

We have many additional matters worth discussing, including a grain and energy hub project in Egypt. There are many appealing opportunities in this regard.

I would also like to note that another Russia-Africa summit is planned for October. I hope that Egypt will be represented by a strong, high-level delegation. Should the Egyptian President’s schedule allow, we would, of course, be very pleased to welcome him to Moscow. Please convey our best wishes to him.

Naturally, the situation in the region remains a shared concern. We all hope that the ongoing conflict will be promptly resolved. As you know, President Trump also addressed this issue yesterday. Let me reiterate that we are prepared to make every effort to help stabilise the situation and, as they say in such cases, return it to normal.

In this context, it is particularly important for us to hear your perspective, as well as Egypt’s assessment as a key country in the Middle East.

We are very pleased to have you here. Welcome, Mr Minister.

Foreign Minister of Egypt Badr Abdelatty: (retranslated) Thank you, Mr President.

Mr President, first of all, I would like to convey President el-Sisi’s warmest regards to you personally, as well as to all our Russian friends. We place great value on all aspects of our bilateral cooperation.

We are grateful for our constructive collaboration on the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, which represents a key milestone in our partnership. Despite the challenges, it is evident that, thanks to your support, the project is moving forward. The President deeply appreciates your contribution and continued support during the implementation of the El Dabaa project.

We also have a second project aimed at establishing a Russian industrial zone in Egypt, which we consider highly significant. We rely on your continued support to help bring this project to fruition.

Mr President, you also mentioned the creation of an energy and grain hub in Egypt, initiatives that we value highly. We sincerely hope that Egypt will become both a grain hub and a centre for energy products, and we fully support these efforts.

Once again, Mr President, it is a great honour for us to be here with you today. We deeply appreciate your support in promoting energy and food security in Egypt and across our region. Your assistance is truly valued.

We confirm our participation in the Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October this year. We sincerely hope that the acute phase of the developments in our region will soon subside, allowing our President to attend the summit in person.

President el-Sisi has asked me to convey to you, Mr President, that he is always very pleased to meet with you. I also have a written message from the President, which he instructed me to deliver to you personally. With your permission, I would like to present it to you now.

Vladimir Putin: Of course, with pleasure, Mr Minister.

Following my recent telephone conversation with the President of Egypt, I instructed the Government to coordinate with our Egyptian colleagues on food supplies to Egypt, primarily our grain. Egypt is our partner in this area. I would like to note that last year we achieved strong results in agriculture and had a good harvest. We have no issues with supplies, and none are expected.

I understand that the Minister of Agriculture or the Deputy Prime Minister, with whom I discussed this and to whom I issued these instructions, should have already contacted their Egyptian counterpart. I would ask you to inform President el-Sisi about this matter.

Thank you.

Meeting with members of the Central Election Commission

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

Vladimir Putin met with members of the Central Election Commission

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

* * *

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Member of the Central Election Commission Anatoly Sysoyev: Absolutely.

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

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

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

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

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

I wish you every success. Thank you very much.

<…>

Russian-Armenian talks

2026-04-03T14:21:45+04:00

Vladimir Putin held talks in the Kremlin with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who arrived in Moscow on a working visit.

The current state and prospects of Russian-Armenian strategic partnership and alliance, integration cooperation in Eurasia, and current issues on the regional agenda, in particular the development of economic, transport, and logistics ties in the South Caucasus, were discussed.

Taking part in the talks on the Russian side were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister – Chair of the Russian part of the Russian-Armenian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation Alexei Overchuk, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office – Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev, Chief Executive Officer – Chairman of the Executive Board of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov, and Director General of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexei Likhachev.

* * *

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

We are delighted to welcome you in Moscow. Thank you very much for accepting our invitation and coming here.

We can see that domestic political processes in Armenia are gaining momentum, with elections approaching. In this context, I would like to emphasise several key points: such processes often become more intense during election campaigns, as is the case not only in Armenia, I believe, but also in Russia and other countries. However, this escalation must not be allowed to affect relations between Russia and Armenia.

We have discussed this many times. Russia and Armenia have special relationships which have evolved over centuries rather than decades. We are united by our common history as well as our cooperation to solve the challenges that we faced in past times. Crucially, we are also united by civilizational affinity. I have already told you this privately before, and I can say it publicly now: we are always in favour of anything that benefits the Armenian people, and you can always rely on it.

As for economic cooperation, it continues to develop at a solid pace. Trade reached approximately US$11 billion the year before last and amounted to US$6.4 billion in 2025. For comparison, trade with neighbouring Azerbaijan stands at under US$5 billion –around US$4.9 billion, to be exact – which is indicative. Of the US$6.5 billion in trade with Armenia, about US$1.2 billion are agricultural products, including vegetables, fruits, and wine – key exports from Armenia.

In this context, we have also discussed several areas that are of particular importance for the future of our cooperation, such as energy, and agriculture that I have already mentioned.

We observe that there is an ongoing discussion in Armenia concerning the development of relations with the European Union. We remain entirely calm about this, understanding that each nation endeavours to maximise the advantages of cooperation with third countries. However, this must be transparent and articulated honestly, in advance, as it were, “on the shore,” beforehand.

Simultaneous membership in the Customs Union with the European Union and the EAEU is impossible; it is simply untenable by definition. The issue is not even a political one; it is purely economic. Some matters require extensive collaborative efforts that must be undertaken over years. These include differences in the evaluation of specific product groups, their market entry, and phytosanitary supervision for agricultural products. Russia and the European Union have entirely different, markedly divergent requirements concerning phytosanitary matters.

There are also numerous other issues today, at this present moment. Perhaps years will pass, and we – the EAEU and the European Union – I hope this will eventually be the case, given that we reside on the same continent – will be able to resolve them. Yet even before the Ukrainian crisis, when we attempted to reach an agreement with the Europeans to collaborate, nothing came to fruition. They adopt an exceedingly rigid stance on virtually every matter, even on issues that seemed minor to me at the time.

Now, regarding energy. I hope the situation will improve there as well. However, currently, as you are aware, energy prices, gas prices, for instance, in Europe exceed US$600 per 1,000 cubic metres, whereas Russia supplies gas to Armenia at US$177.5 per 1,000 cubic metres. The disparity is vast, the difference is substantial.

We frequently debate this issue as well. I understand that you advocate for certain alternative methods for determining energy prices. Nevertheless, this remains a different order of magnitude: 600 compared to 177.5.

If we examine the state of Armenia’s economy, I am unsure, but it seems to me that you share the same assessment: after all, Armenia’s exports to EAEU countries have increased tenfold over recent years – tenfold. I reiterate, ultimately, this is your decision, the decision of your team, your experts, regarding where and with whom to collaborate, and on what basis.

Now, turning to security issues. Of course, the most sensitive issue to this day – and we recognise this, we discuss it often – is everything relating to Karabakh. We come back to it time and again. And we know that you and your colleagues have had, and continue to have, questions and concerns regarding the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the CSTO. We have revisited this on numerous occasions. But I think it is also clear that, after you recognised Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan in Prague in 2022, it simply became wholly inappropriate for the CSTO to become involved in a process that had taken on an intra-Azerbaijani dimension. The question of reuniting Karabakh, if we view it as part of Azerbaijan – and I am not passing judgement on whether that is a good or bad thing from the perspective of organising a peaceful life – I think probably made sense in that context.

Incidentally, thanks to your efforts and those of the President of Azerbaijan, I believe you have now managed to stabilise relations. The US President has played an active role in this, and I understand transport links are being unfrozen, and so on. But I think we also need to draw a line under this matter. And it would be better if this did not become entangled in the domestic political process, especially during an election campaign.

Finally, we have many friends in Armenia – many, we know that. Many Armenians live in the Russian Federation. Estimates vary, but our figures show over two million people, and the statistics from the Interior Ministry bear this out. And there are many political forces that are pro-Russian.

Of course, I will be quite frank with you: we have always conducted our dialogue honestly and directly. We would very much like all these political parties and politicians to be able to take part in domestic political process during the elections. Some, I understand, are in prison, despite holding Russian passports. That is your decision; we will not interfere. But we would like them all to be able, at the very least, to participate in this domestic political process.

Let me say again that, whatever happens, we in Russia will always be guided by what is best for the Armenian people. I have said this to you before, and I want to emphasise it once again.

And I would like to express my hope that, regardless of the outcome of the elections in Armenia, our shared commitment to building and strengthening Russian-Armenian ties will continue.

Thank you.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan: Thank you very much, Mr President.

First of all, thank you for the invitation and for the warm welcome.

Vladimir Putin: We will also be having lunch with you.

Nikol Pashinyan: Yes, thank you in advance for the hospitality. (Laughter.)

Of course, we recently had a meeting with you in St Petersburg, and we had very successful talks. Our relations are so intense that there is a need for such frequent meetings, and there is always something to discuss at the highest level.

Naturally, our relations with the Russian Federation are very deep; they are very important for us, and, in my view, they are developing dynamically amid the new realities in our region, now that peace has finally been made between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

I believe this is having a positive effect on our relations with the Russian Federation as well, because for the first time since our independence we have a railway connection with the Russian Federation. We are importing from Russia via railway through the territory of Azerbaijan. I hope that in the near future we will also be exporting. This is certainly strengthening our traditional economic ties, and it is reinforcing our ties within the Eurasian Economic Union.

With regard to the European Union, of course we understand that, in principle, membership in both blocs is incompatible. But what we are doing, and the agenda we have, at least at present, they are compatible. That is a fact. And as long as it is possible to combine these agendas, we will continue to do so. When the processes develop to the point where a decision must be made, I am confident that we, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, will take that decision.

Obviously, in this context, our relations with the Russian Federation have never been in question, nor will they ever be, because, as I have already said, these ties and relations are very deep and are beyond dispute.

Naturally, we are cooperating in the energy sector. Here, too, we have traditionally very strong ties and cooperation. I must say that we are currently working very closely with the Russian side to develop interaction in the field of new technologies as well, by which I mean new technologies in energy, because new energy technologies, solar energy and so on and so forth, are developing very well in Armenia. You are aware that we are also discussing with the Russian Federation the construction of a new nuclear power plant. But on these issues we are completely transparent, because we do not hide the fact that we are discussing these matters not only with Russian partners, but also with other partners, as we are seeking the most advantageous proposal for the Republic of Armenia.

As I have already said, Armenia and Azerbaijan have achieved peace. You have mentioned President Trump who clearly contributed to the peace process. However, it is also clear that you personally have always played a key – essential – role in the process of the normalisation between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Throughout all these processes, we have always maintained close contact, and I regularly updated you on the ongoing processes.

Incidentally, last August, upon returning from Washington, I called you and said that the developments in Washington opened up new opportunities for our relations as well, and now we can see that this has become reality. I have already mentioned the railway connection between Russia and Armenia. We had been working on this issue for decades, but unfortunately, we were never able to reach a tangible outcome.

As for issues related to Nagorno-Karabakh, I have stated clearly and publicly in Armenia that the Karabakh movement should not be continued, as peace has already been made between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both countries have recognised each other’s territorial integrity, political independence, and sovereignty as enshrined in the Alma-Ata Declaration. This means that independent Armenia is recognised as 100 percent identical to Soviet Armenia, and independent Azerbaijan as 100 percent identical to Soviet Azerbaijan. I believe this provides a solid foundation to further strengthen peace. I would also like to once again express my gratitude for the support that I have consistently felt in the process of achieving peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Regarding Karabakh, we have discussed this issue many times, primarily in a working format. Yes, we have recognised it as part of Azerbaijan. However, this decision was made after the leadership of the Russian Federation publicly addressed the matter on two occasions, and as you recall, we have repeatedly discussed this. At the same time, we have never concealed the challenges in our relations with the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. In 2022, a specific situation arose in which, in our view, CSTO mechanisms should have been activated but were not. This has led to the current state of our relations with the organisation. At present, we are not participating in CSTO activities for a straightforward reason: we have yet to be able to explain to our citizens why the organisation did not respond, despite its obligations under the Collective Security Treaty.

As for our domestic political processes, you know, Armenia is a democratic country. We have ongoing political processes – it has become routine for us. In fact, we hold municipal elections twice a year. They are also highly politicised, because under our political reforms, people vote for or against political parties as well. I mean, not very many, but there are citizens who think there is too much democracy in Armenia.

But for us, this is a fundamental issue. Our social media, for example, is 100 percent free. There are no restrictions whatsoever. And many citizens feel this is excessive. And more broadly, frankly, we don’t have any political actors ‘in places not so remote.’

I would also note that, for example, we have parliamentary elections coming up – elections for members of parliament – and based on the outcome of these elections, this is essentially, de facto, the election of the Prime Minister. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that only citizens holding an Armenian passport – and no other nationality – can take part in these elections. With all due respect, under the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, people with Russian passports cannot stand as candidates for parliament or prime minister. So, there are no restrictions in that regard.

And I am 100 percent certain that you know that both our relations with the Russian Federation and our personal relationship have been through many trials over the past few years. I am very pleased and would like to thank you once again for the atmosphere of trust that you, first and foremost, have created. Because if you did not want us to have such an open, trusting relationship, I think I obviously would not be able to achieve this, and I want to thank you again.

I am confident that after our upcoming elections, democracy in Armenia and the people’s power in Armenia will be further strengthened, and our relations will also continue to expand dynamically following the elections.

As I have already said, our agenda is very full, but there are still many untapped opportunities. I am confident that these opportunities will be realised through our dialogue.

Thank you very much.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

<…>

Address to International Transport and Logistics Forum participants

2026-04-01T10:11:53+04:00

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

I am delighted to greet the participants and guests of the first International Transport and Logistics Forum. These sectors, which are vital to the global economy, are currently undergoing profound transformation and facing serious geopolitical challenges. That is why the upcoming discussion and the solutions you propose are of particular importance.

The developments in Iran are already having a direct impact on energy markets and the transportation of oil and gas via the Strait of Hormuz. Increasingly, countries and companies are focusing not only on the speed and cost of transportation; the security and resilience of transport routes and supply chains that are less vulnerable to crises, military conflicts, and other external risks are becoming the decisive factor.

Russia can offer such solutions to the world and play an important role in forming a new architecture of global logistics and international trade. For our partners, Russian logistics routes can be advantageous both economically – by reducing delivery times – and from the point of view of diversifying global transport flows.

The current technological revolution in transport and logistics, including the expanding use of digital solutions based on artificial intelligence, is another long-term challenge.

Naturally, we should take these processes into account in our planning for decades ahead. This concerns the development of core logistics corridors at a whole new technology level and, of course, the introduction of cutting-edge modes of transport.

For example, the use of robotics and autonomous systems is opening up broad opportunities for cargo delivery. They are replacing routine operations at airports and railway stations, in warehouses and terminals, while in urban environments small rovers are being used for so-called last-mile delivery.

We intend to use digital platforms as the foundation for integrating all elements of the transport services market, establishing unmanned systems and logistics management, introducing unified transport documents for international shipments, and monitoring the condition of infrastructure and vehicles on a near-constant basis.

Russia is ready to share its experience through joint science and technology programmes and, of course, by training specialists able to ensure the development of transport and logistics in the 21^st century, using this new technological foundation.

I also believe that the International Transport and Logistics Forum will play an important role in promoting cooperation in these spheres. We will hold it regularly, once every two years.

Therefore, I would like to invite you to visit Russia again. Of course, I wish you success in your work, plans, and endeavours.

Thank you for your attention.