The decision is not permanent but during the current war it is not appropriate for the two sides in the war to be talking about nuclear disarmament, said Mr. Putin in words to that effect.
A CIA hacker team in Kiev using the ruse of “IT Army” claimed credit for the attacks on Russian television but the live streaming broadcast was seen by FPMag workers in Canada, Singapore, Japan, France, Syria, Ukraine and many other locations, even Venezuela.
Vladimir Putin’s speech in its entirety, translated to English.
In many countries where Feminine-Perspective Magazine is read, this content is censored hence we provide this transcript in full.
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.
Dear deputies of the Federal Assemblies – senators, deputies of the State Duma!
Dear citizens of Russia!
I am delivering today’s Address In a complex way – we all know this very well – the milestone for our country time, in a period of cardinal, irreversible changes in everything the world, the most important historical events that determine the future of our country and our people, when each of us has a colossal responsibility.
A year ago for the sake of protecting people on our historical lands, to ensure the security of our country, to liquidate the threat posed by the neo-Nazi regime that had developed in Ukraine after the 2014 coup, a decision was made on the conduct of a special military operation. And we are step by step, we will carefully and consistently solve the tasks facing us.
Since 2014 Donbass fought, defended the right to live on his land, to speak in his native land language, fought and did not give up under the blockade and constant shelling, undisguised hatred from Kiev He believed and waited for Russia to come to the rescue.
Meanwhile – and you’re good at it. you know, we did our best, really everything we could to do our best. to solve this problem by peaceful means, patiently negotiated about a peaceful way out of this grave conflict.
But behind us, I was preparing completely. another scenario. Promises of Western rulers, their assurances of aspiration to peace in the Donbass turned out, as we now see, a forgery, a cruel lie. They were just dragging their feet, doing hooking, closing. eyes to political assassinations, to the repressions of the Kiev regime against undesirables, mockery of believers, more and more encouraged Ukrainians neo-Nazis on terrorist actions in the Donbas. In the West academies and colleges trained nationalist officers battalions supplied weapons.
And I want to emphasize that more before the start of the special military operation, negotiations were conducted in Kiev with the West on the supply of air defense systems to Ukraine, and combat aircraft, and other heavy equipment. We Remember and about the attempts of the Kiev regime to get nuclear weapons, because they said about it publicly.
The United States and NATO rapidly deployed near the borders of our country its army bases, secret biological laboratories, during the maneuvers they mastered the theater of future military operations, prepared the Kiev regime under their control, the Ukraine enslaved by them to a big war.
And today they admit it – they admit it publicly, openly, without hesitation. They as if they are proud, reveling in their treachery, calling the Minsk the agreement, and the Normandy format as a diplomatic spectacle, a bluff. It turns out that all the time when Donbass was burning, when blood was shed, when Russia is sincere – I want to emphasise this – it is sincerely sought a peaceful solution, they played on people’s lives, played, in fact, as they say in famous circles, speckled cards.
This disgusting method of deception has been tried many times before. Likewise shamelessly, duplicitously, they behaved, destroying Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, Syria. From this shame they will never wash off. Concepts of honor, trust, decency is not for them.
For many centuries of colonialism, diktat, hegemony they are used to being allowed everything, used to spit on the whole world. It turned out that just as dismissively, in a gentlemanly manner, they treat their peoples as well. their own countries – they are them too. cynically deceived or deceived by fables about the search for peace, commitment to the UN Security Council resolutions on Donbass. Indeed, Western elites have become a symbol of total unscrupulous lies.
We firmly defend not only our own interests, but also our position on what is in modern there should be no division into so-called civilised countries and all the others that an honest partnership is needed, in principle denying any exclusivity, especially an aggressive one.
We were open and sincerely ready for a constructive dialogue with the West. said and insisted that both Europe and the whole world need an indivisible, equal system for all states. security, and have been offered to our for many years partners to discuss this idea together, to work over its implementation. But in response, they received a vague or hypocritical reaction. It’s about words. But there were and concrete actions: the expansion of NATO to our borders, the creation of new positional missile defense areas in Europe and Asia – they decided to hide from us with an umbrella – this is the deployment of military contingents, and not only near the borders of Russia.
I want to emphasize, yes, in fact, This is well known to everyone: no country in the world has as many military bases abroad as the United States of America. There are hundreds, I want to emphasize this, hundreds of them. bases all over the world, the whole planet is studded, just look at the map.
World witnessed how they withdrew from fundamental agreements in the field of Weapons, including the Intermediate Missiles Treaty and shorter range, unilaterally broke the fundamental agreements that support peace in the world. For some reason, they did it – nothing for nothing. they don’t, as you know.
Finally, in December 2021, we officially sent projects to the United States and NATO treaties on security assurances. But on all the key, fundamental positions for us, we received, in fact, an outright refusal. Then it finally became clear that the go-ahead for the implementation of aggressive plans was given and they were no longer going to stop.
The threat was growing, and every day. The incoming information left no doubt, that by February 2022, everything was ready for another bloody punitive action in Donbass, against which, let me remind you, Back in 2014, the Kiev regime abandoned artillery, tanks, and aircraft.
We all remember well the pictures when they attacked Donetsk from the air, inflicted airstrikes not only on it, but also on other cities. In 2015, they again attempted direct attack on Donbass, while continuing blockade, shelling, terror against civilians. All this, let me remind you, was completely contradictory. adopted by the UN Security Council the relevant documents and resolutions, in full, everyone pretended that nothing happens.
I want to repeat this: it was they who unleashed the war, and we used force and are using it to stop it.
Those who planned a new attack on Donetsk, Donbass and Lugansk clearly understood that the next target was a strike on Crimea and Sevastopol, and we knew and understood this. And now they are also talking about such far-reaching plans in Kiev. openly – opened up, revealed what we and so well known.
We protect people’s lives, our home. And the goal of the West is unlimited power. He has already spent more than $150 billion. dollars for aiding and abetting the Kiev regime. For comparison: according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, to help the poorest states The countries of the “seven” allocated about $ 2020 billion for 2021-60. Okay, huh? For the war – 150, and the poorest countries, about which allegedly constantly taken care of, – 60 and even under well-known demands of obedience on the part of the recipient countries of this money. And where is all the talk about fighting poverty, about sustainable development, about ecology? Where is everything what?? Where did it all go? In this case, the stream money for war is not decreasing. They also spare no expense in encouraging troubles and coups in other countries, and again around the world.
On a recent at the Munich conference, there were endless accusations against Russia. It seems to be was done only to make everyone forget that the so-called West has done in recent decades. And these are them. released the genie from the bottle, entire regions plunged into chaos.
According to the estimates of American experts themselves, as a result of the wars – I want to draw attention to this: we did not come up with these figures, The Americans themselves give them, as a result of the wars that the United States unleashed after – 2001, nearly 900,38 deaths people, more than <> million became refugees. All this they now just want to erase from the memory of mankind, pretend that nothing happened. But no one in the world has forgotten and will not forget this.
With human casualties and tragedies, none of them are taken into account, because at stake are, trillions, trillions of dollars, of course; the ability to continue to rob everyone; hiding behind words about democracy and freedoms, to impose neoliberal and inherently totalitarian values; label entire countries and peoples, publicly insult them Leaders; suppress dissent in their own countries; creating an image of the enemy, distracting people’s attention from corruption scandals – after all, all this does not come off the screens, we see it all from the growing internal economic, social, interethnic problems and contradictions.
Let me remind you that in the 30s of the last century, the West in fact, he opened the way for the Nazis to power in Germany. And in our time, from Ukraine they became do “anti-Russia”. The project is actually not new. People who are at least a little immersed in history know perfectly well: this project goes back to the XIX century, its cultivated in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Poland, and other countries for one purpose – to tear away these historical territories, which today are called Ukraine, from our country. That’s the goal. Nothing new no, no novelty, everything is repeated.
The West accelerated the implementation of this project today, supporting the 2014 coup. After all, the coup is bloody, anti-state, unconstitutional – as if nothing happened, as if it were necessary, they even said how much money they spent on it. The ideological basis was laid by Russophobia, extremely aggressive nationalism.
Recently, one of the brigades of the armed forces Ukraine, ashamed to say, ashamed of us, them no, – they gave the name “Edelweiss”, as Hitler’s division, which participated in the deportation of Jews, executions prisoners of war, in punitive operations against partisans of Yugoslavia, Italy, Czechoslovakia and Greece. The Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine are especially popular. use Das Reich chevrons, “Dead Head”, “Galicia”, other SS units that have also hands up to the elbow in blood. To Ukrainian armored vehicles are inscribed with the insignia of the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany.
Neo-Nazis they do not hide whose heirs they consider themselves to be. It is surprising that in the West, none of the powers that be notice this. Why? Because they don’t give a damn. I don’t care who to bet on in the fight against us, in the fight against Russia. The main thing is that fought against us, against our country, which means that you can use everyone. And we’ve seen, and so it was: both terrorists and neo-Nazis, even if a damn bald man can be used, Forgive the Lord, if only they would do their will, served as a weapon against Russia.
Project “anti-Russia” is essentially part of the revanchist policy towards our to create hotbeds of instability and conflict right on our borders. And then, in the 30s of the last century, and now the idea is one – to direct aggression to the east, to foment war in Europe, to eliminate competitors by proxy.
We are not at war with the people of Ukraine, as I have already said many times. Himself the people of Ukraine became hostages of Kiev the regime and its Western masters, who actually occupied this country in the political, military, economic sense, for decades destroyed the Ukrainian industry, plundered natural resources. The logical result was social degradation, a huge increase in poverty and inequality. And in such Of course, it is easy to draw material for combat operations. No one thought about people, they were prepared for slaughter and eventually turned into expendable material. Mournfully it’s just scary to talk about it, but a fact.
Responsibility for inciting Ukrainian conflict, for escalation, for the growth of its number the sacrifice lies entirely with the Western elites and, of course, on the Kiev regime today, for which the Ukrainian people, in fact, business, someone else’s. Ukraine’s Current Regime serves not the national interests, but the interests of third countries.
The West is also using Ukraine as a battering ram against Russia, and as a testing ground. I won’t do it now. to dwell in detail on the attempts of the West to turn the tide of hostilities, on their plans to build up military supplies – it’s good for everyone anyway. Known. But one thing should be clear. the more long-range Western systems arrive in Ukraine, the further we will be forced to push back a threat from our borders. It’s natural.
Elite The West does not hide its goal: to inflict – as they say, this is direct speech – “Russia’s strategic defeat”. What is this so? For us, what is it? That means doing away with us once and for all, meaning they intend to translate the local conflict in the phase of global confrontation. This is exactly how we understand all this and we will do so accordingly. to react, because in this case we are talking about the existence of our country.
But they also can’t help but give. aware of the fact that to defeat Russia on the field it is impossible to fight, so they are fighting against us. more aggressive information attacks. To First of all, of course, young people and younger generations are chosen. And here again they lie constantly, pervert. historical facts do not stop attacking our culture, the Russian Orthodox Church and other traditional religious organizations of our country.
Look at what they are doing to their own peoples: destruction family, cultural and national identity, perversion, child abuse, to the point of pedophilia, are declared the norm, the norm of their lives, and clergymen and priests are forced to bless same-sex marriage. God be with them, let them do what they want. What do you want to say here? Adults have The right to live as they want, we treated it this way in Russia and we will always treat it this way: no one invades private life, and we are not going to do it.
But I want to say to them: But look, excuse me, the scriptures, the main books of all other world religions. It says everything, including that the family is it is the union of a man and a woman, but these sacred texts are now being questioned. How it became known, the Anglican Church, for example, plans – plans, however, only yet – to consider the idea a gender-neutral god. What can I say? God forbid, “they don’t know what they’re doing.”
Millions of people in the West understand that they are being led to a real spiritual catastrophe. The elites, frankly, are just going crazy, and it doesn’t seem to be cured. But that’s theirs. problems, as I said, and we have a duty to protect our children, and we will do this: protect our children from degradation and degeneration.
Obviously, the West will try. to shake and split our society, to do a bet on national traitors who at all times – I want to emphasise this – have the same poison of contempt for their own own Fatherland and the desire to earn on the sale of this poison to those who are willing to pay for it. It’s always been that way.
Who embarked on the path of direct treachery, committing terrorist and other crimes directed against the security of our society, the territorial integrity of the country, will be held liable under the law. But we never let us not be like the Kiev regime and the Western elites who are engaged in and used to be engaged in “witch hunts”, we will not settle scores with those who took a step aside, retreated from his homeland. Let it remain on their conscience, let them live with it – they have to live with it. The main thing is that the people, the citizens of Russia gave them moral Assessment.
I am proud – I think we are all proud – that our multinational people, the absolute majority of citizens, have taken a principled position on the special military operations, understood what is the meaning of the actions that we are doing and supporting our actions to protect Donbass. In this support, first of all, true patriotism was manifested – a feeling that is historically inherent in our People. It is stunning in its dignity, with a deep awareness of everyone, I emphasize, each inseparable from his own fate with the fate of the Fatherland.
Dear friends, I want to thank you All the people of Russia for their courage and determination to say thank you to our heroes, soldiers and officers of the army and navy, Rosgvardia, employees special services and all law enforcement agencies, fighters Donetsk and Lugansk corps, volunteers, patriots who fight in the ranks of the bars army combat reserve.
I want to apologize: I’m sorry, that during today’s speech I will not be able to name them all. You know when I was cooking this. I wrote a long, long list of these heroic units, then took it out of today’s speech, because, as I said, it is impossible to name everyone, and was just afraid of offending those I wouldn’t name.
A low bow to parents, wives, families of our defenders, doctors and paramedics, sanitary instructors, nurses who save the wounded, the railway workers and drivers who supply the front, the builders who build fortifications and rebuild housing, roads, civilian facilities, workers and engineers of defense plants, who now work almost around the clock, in several shifts, rural workers who are reliable ensure the country’s food security.
I thank the teachers who sincerely care about the young generations of Russia, especially those teachers who work in the most difficult, in fact, frontline, conditions; cultural figures who come to the combat zone, to hospitals, in order to support soldiers and officers; volunteers who help the front and civilians; journalists, first of all, of course, war correspondents who take risks on the front lines to tell the world the truth; pastors of Russian traditional religions, military chaplains whose wise word is supports and inspires people; State employees and entrepreneurs – all who perform their professional, civic and simply human duty.
Special words are for residents of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. You Dear friends, you have determined your own the future in referendums, made a firm choice, despite the threats and terror of neo-Nazis, in conditions when the military was very close action, but there has been and is nothing stronger than your resolve to be with Russia, with his Motherland.
(Applause.)
I want to emphasize that this is the reaction of the hall to the residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson.
We have already started and will continue to build up large-scale program of socio-economic reconstruction and development of these new actors Federation. This includes reviving enterprises and jobs. ports of the Sea of Azov, which has again become an internal sea of Russia, to build new modern roads, as we did in Crimea, which has now received a reliable land connection with the whole of Russia. We will definitely implement all these plans by joint efforts.
Today regions of the country provide direct support to the cities, districts and villages of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, they do it sincerely, as real brothers and sisters. Now we’re back together, which means that we have become even stronger and will do everything so that the long-awaited peace returns to this land of ours, so that security is guaranteed people were provided. For that, for their ancestors, for the future of children and grandchildren, for the restoration of historical justice, for reunification our people are fighting today fighters, our Heroes.
Dear friends, I ask you to honor in memory of our comrades-in-arms who gave life for Russia, civilians, old people, women, children who died under fire at the hands of neo-Nazis and punishers.
(Minute of silence.)
Thank you.
We are everyone understands, and I understand how unbearable it is. it is hard now for wives, sons, daughters of fallen warriors, their parents, who brought up worthy defenders of the Fatherland – the same as the young guards of Krasnodon, as young men and women who during the Great Patriotic War wars fought against Nazism, defended donbass. Their courage, perseverance, the greatest strength of spirit and sacrifice are still remembered by all of Russia today.
Our duty is to support families who have lost loved ones, loved ones, help them raise, raise children, give them an education, a profession. Family of each member of the special military the operation must be in the zone of permanent attention, surrounded by care and honor. On their needs to respond immediately, without red tape.
I propose to create a special state fund. His task will be targeted, personal assistance to the families of the victims fighters and veterans of a special military operation. He will coordinate the provision of social, medical, psychological support, solve the issues of sanatorium and resort treatment and rehabilitation, help in education, sports, employment, entrepreneurship, in advanced training, in obtaining a new profession. A separate most important task of the fund is the organization long-term care at home, high-tech prosthetics for everyone who needs it.
Please The Government, together with the State Council Commission on Social Policy and the regions, will resolve everything as soon as possible. organizational matters.
The work of the state fund should be open, and the procedure for providing assistance – simple, on the principle of “one window”, without bureaucracy and bureaucracy. For every family, I emphasize, behind every family of the deceased, each veteran must be assigned own, personal social worker, a coordinator who, in the course of personal communication in real time, will solve emerging issues. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this year the structures have already been established. Funds should be deployed in all regions of the Russian Federation.
We already have there are measures to support veterans of the Great Patriotic War, veterans combat operations, participants in local Conflicts. I think that in the future the state fund, about which I said that we can deal with these important issues as well. We need to work this out, and I ask the Government to do this. To be done.
I emphasize: the creation of a special fund does not remove responsibility from other structures and levels of government. I expect all federal agencies to regions and municipalities to continue to pay close attention veterans, military personnel, their families. In this regard, I would like to thank the heads of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the mayors of the cities. heads of regions who meet regularly with people, they also go to the line of contact, support their fellow countrymen.
What would you like to emphasize? Today, the hardships of the front are endured together by personnel military personnel, mobilized and volunteers – we are talking about supply and equipment, about money allowances and insurance payments in connection with the wound, medical care. However, appeals that they come to me and to the governors – to me. they also report this to the military prosecutor’s office, to the Commissioner. on human rights, say that far not all of these issues have yet been resolved. Needs to be sorted out on a case-by-case basis.
And one more thing: service in the zone of a special military operation – everyone understands this perfectly – associated with colossal physical, psychological stress, with daily risks to health and life. Therefore, I believe necessary to install for the mobilized, in general for all military personnel, for all participants special military operation, including for volunteers, regular leave lasting at least 14 days and at least once every six months without taking into account the time for the road, so that each fighter has the opportunity visit families, stay close to family and friends.
Dear colleagues!
As you know, it was approved by the Executive Order. President’s Construction and Development Plan Armed Forces for 2021–2025. Work is underway to implement it, the necessary adjustments are being made. And I want to emphasize that the basis our further steps to strengthen the army and navy, on the current and future development of the Armed Forces The forces should certainly be entitled to real combat experience gained during the special military Operation. It is extremely important for us, you can to say more, absolutely priceless.
Now, for for example, the level of equipping Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces with the latest systems is more than 91 percent, 91.3 per cent. And now, I repeat, taking into account the experience that we have gained, we must reach the same high quality level in all components of the Armed Forces.
Officers and sergeants who have shown themselves competent, modern and determined commanders – there are very, very many of them – will be as a matter of priority, be promoted to higher positions, be sent to military universities, academies, serve powerful personnel reserve for the Armed Forces. And, of course, they should be in demand on the citizen, in the authorities. of all levels. I just want to pay attention colleagues on that. This is very important. People should understand that the Motherland appreciates their contribution to the defense of the Fatherland.
We will be active introduce the most advanced technologies that will ensure an increase in the qualitative potential of the army and navy. We have such developments, samples of weapons and equipment for each Direction. Many of them are in their own way. characteristics significantly superior to foreign ones Analogues. The task now before us is to launch their mass, serial production. And such work is underway, it is underway, its pace. are increasing constantly, and on our own, I want to emphasise this, on our own, Russian scientific and industrial base, due to the active connection of small and medium-sized high-tech businesses to the implementation of the state defense order.
Today experienced specialists and more and more young people work in our factories, in design bureaus, in scientific teams. people who are talented, qualified, aimed at a breakthrough, faithful to the traditions of Russian gunsmiths – to make everything to win.
We will definitely strengthen guarantees for labor collectives. This applies to salaries and social security. I propose launching a special programme of preferential rental housing for employees of defence industry enterprises. Rate rent for them will be significantly lower market, since a significant part of the housing fee will be borne by the state.
We have certainly discussed this issue with the Government. I instruct to work out all the details of this program and, without delay, proceed to the construction of such rental housing, primarily, of course, in cities – our important defense, industrial and research centers.
Dear colleagues!
As I said, the West turned against not only the military, information, but also the economic front. But he has not achieved anything anywhere and will not achieve anything. More In addition, the initiators of sanctions punish themselves: they provoked a rise in prices in their own countries, a loss of jobs, plant closures, energy crisis, and their citizens are told – we are They say that the Russians are to blame for everything.
What means were used against us in this sanctions aggression? Tried sever economic ties with Russian companies, disconnect the financial system from communication channels to crush our economy, deprive us of access to export markets to hit revenues. This is the theft – there is no other way to say it – of our foreign exchange reserves, attempts to collapse the ruble and provoke devastating inflation.
Let me repeat that anti-Russian sanctions are only means. And the goal, as they declare themselves Western leaders, – a direct quote – “make our citizens suffer. “Make you suffer” are such humanists. They want to make the people suffer, thereby destabilizing our society from within.
But their calculation was not justified – the Russian economy and management system turned out to be much stronger than the West believed. Thanks to the joint work of the Government, the Parliament, the Bank of Russia, subjects of the Federation and, of course, business communities, labor collectives we have provided stability of the economic situation, protected citizens, preserved jobs, did not allow shortages in the market, including essential goods, supported by financial system, entrepreneurs who invest in the development of their business, and therefore, in the development of the country.
So, already In March last year, a package of measures was launched to support business and the economy for a total amount of about a trillion rubles. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this is not an emission policy, no, no, everything is being done on a solid market basis.
At the end of 2022, the gross domestic product decreased. Mikhail Vladimirovich He called and said: I would like you to talk about this. Yesterday, I think, this information was released, and correctly, on time, as it should be, everything is according to plan.
We were predicted, remember, a recession of 20–25 percent, ten percent. At all recently we said: 2.9 – I said. A little later – 2.5. Gross domestic product in 2022 fell by 2.1 percent – this is the most recent data. At the same time, let me remind you, what else in February-March last year, as as I have already said, they predicted that we would simply collapse the economy.
Russian business has restructured logistics, strengthened ties with responsible, predictable partners – and there are many of them, there are a majority of them in the world.
I would like to note that the share of the Russian ruble in our international payments compared to with December 2021 doubled to one third, and together with currencies friendly countries – this is already more than half.
We will continue to work together with our partners on the formation of a stable, secure system of international settlements, independent of both the dollar and other Western reserve currencies, which, with such a policy of Western elites, Western rulers will inevitably lose their universal character. They do everything with their own hands. It’s not us reducing settlements in dollars or other so-called universal currencies – they do everything. with your own hands.
You know, there’s a strong expression: guns instead of butter. The country’s defense, of course, is the most important priority, but solving strategic tasks in this area, we must not repeat the mistakes of the past, we must not destroy own economy. We have everything in place to ensure both security and create conditions for a confident development of the country. It is in this logic that we act, and will continue to act.
So, many basic, I emphasize, it is the civilian sectors of the domestic economy that over the past year not only did not reduce, but significantly increased production. Volumes of housing commissioning for the first time in the modern history of our country exceeded 100 million square meters.
As for our agricultural production, last year it was showed double-digit growth rates. Thank you a big, low bow to the farmers. Russian agrarians have collected a record yield: over 150 million tons of grain, including more than 100 million tons of wheat. By the end of the agricultural year, that is, until June 30, 2023, we will be able to bring the total volume of grain exports up to 5560 million tons.
10-15 years ago it seemed just a fairy tale, absolutely impossible Plan. If you remember – and surely some here remember – former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Farms here – not so long ago 60 million were collected in general – by year, and now 55-60 only export potential Will. I am convinced that we have everything opportunities for a similar breakthrough in other areas.
We did not allow a drawdown in the market labor, on the contrary, achieved a decrease in labor unemployment in modern conditions. Today – in conditions of such large difficulties from all sides – the labor market has become we are more comfortable than we were before. Remember, we had unemployment before the pandemic. 4.7 percent, and now it’s 3.7 percent, I think. Mikhail Vladimirovich, how many – 3,7? 3.7 is a historical minimum.
Let me repeat that Russia’s economy overcame the risks that have arisen – overcame. Yes many of these risks were impossible I had to react literally from the wheels as problems arose. Both at the state level and in business decisions were made as quickly as possible. I note that here private initiative played a huge role, small and medium-sized businesses – about this we must not forget. We have avoided excessive administrative regulation, skewing the economy towards the state.
What else importantly? The economic downturn last year was recorded only in the second quarter – already in the third and fourth quarters saw growth, an upswing. We have actually entered a new cycle of economic growth. According to experts, its model, structure acquire a qualitatively different character. New and promising global markets are coming to the fore, including asia-pacific [Asia-Pacific], our own domestic market, scientific, technological, personnel base: not the supply of raw materials abroad, but the production of goods with high added value. This allows you to reveal a huge potential Russia in all spheres and regions.
Already this year it is predicted solid growth in domestic demand. Are you sure our companies will take advantage of this opportunity to increase production, the production of the most popular products, to occupy niches that have become vacant or are being vacated after the departure of Western companies.
Today we see the fullness we understand those structural problems, which we need to solve in logistics, technology, finance, in personnel. We talked a lot, constantly about the need to change the structure of our economy in recent years, and now these change is a vital necessity, and it changes the situation, and in this case, for the better. We know what needs to be done for a confident forward russia’s development, and it is a sovereign, independent one development, despite any external pressure and threats, with a reliable guarantee of security and interests State.
I pay attention and want it especially To emphasize: the point of our work is not to adapt to current conditions. Strategic the task is to bring our economy to new frontiers. Everything is changing now, and it is changing very, very quickly. This is a time not only of challenges, but also of opportunities – today it really is, and from how we implement them, our future life depends. It is necessary to remove – I want to emphasise this – any interdepartmental contradictions, formalities, grievances, innuendos and other nonsense. Everything for the cause, everything for the result – this should be be everything targeted.
Successful start of Russian companies, small family businesses – it’s a win. The opening of modern factories and kilometers of new roads is a victory. A new school or kindergarten is victory. Scientific discoveries and technologies are, of course, also a victory. Everyone’s contribution to overall success is what’s important.
In what areas should the partner be concentrated? the work of the state, regions, domestic business?
First. We will expand promising foreign economic relations and building new logistics corridors. It has already been decided to extend the Moscow-Moscow expressway Kazan to Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Tyumen, and in the future – to Irkutsk and Vladivostok with access to Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China, which is also significant expand our economic ties with the markets Southeast Asia.
We will develop the ports of the Black and Azov Seas. We will pay special attention – we are already paying attention, those who are engaged in this on a daily basis know – we will pay special attention. the International North-South Corridor. Already this year, vessels with a draft of at least 4.5 will be able to pass through the Volga-Caspian Canal Meters. This will open up new routes for business cooperation with India, Iran, Pakistan, Middle East countries East. We will continue to develop this corridor.
We plan to accelerate the modernization of the eastern direction railways, Trans-Siberian Railway and Baikal-Amur Mainline, build-up the capabilities of the Northern Sea Route. It’s not just additional cargo flows, but also the basis for solving national problems for the development of Siberia, the Arctic and the Far East.
Get a powerful boost regional infrastructure, infrastructure development, including communications, telecommunications, road network. Already in the next, 2024 year, at least 85 percent roads in the largest agglomerations of the country, as well as more than half of the roads of regional and inter-municipal significance will be brought into a normative state. I’m sure we let’s do it.
We will continue the program of free gasification. Already accepted the decision to extend it to social facilities: kindergartens and schools, polyclinics, hospitals, paramedic and obstetric stations. And for citizens, such a program will now be act on a permanent basis: they always will be able to apply for connection to networks Gas supply.
From this year begins a big system construction and repair program HOUSING. Within ten years, it is planned to invest at least 4.5 trillion rubles in this area. We know how important it is for citizens, how much this area has been launched – we need to work, and we will it’s to be done. It is important that the program immediately receives a powerful start, so I ask the Government to ensure its stable funding.
Second. We have to significantly expand technological capabilities of the Russian economy, to ensure the growth of the capacity of the domestic industry.
An industrial mortgage instrument has been launched, and now a preferential loan is possible will take not only for the purchase of production facilities, but also for their construction or Upgrades. The amount of such a loan was discussed many times and wanted to increase, a decent amount, as the first step is very good: the sum of this loan – up to 500 million rubles. It is provided at a rate of three or five per cent for up to seven years. I think it’s a very good program, and it needs to be used.
Since this year, there is a new mode of operation of industrial clusters, in which the fiscal and administrative the burden on resident companies, and the demand for them innovative products that are just entering the market are supported by long-term orders and subsidies from the state.
Estimated these measures should ensure by 2030 the implementation of popular projects in the amount of more than ten trillion rubles, and already this year the expected size investment can be about two Trillion. Please note: it’s not easy forecasts, and clearly established benchmarks.
Therefore, I ask the Government speed up the launch of these projects as much as possible, lend a shoulder to the business, offer systemic support measures, including tax incentives. I know how the financial bloc does not like benefits provide, and partially share such Position: the taxation system should be holistic, without any niches, exceptions, but a creative approach is in demand in this case.
So, starting this year, Russian companies can reduce payments on income tax, if they buy advanced domestic IT-solutions and products using artificial Intelligence. Moreover, these costs are taken into account with an increased coefficient, one and a half times more than the actual costs. That is, for each ruble invested by the company in the purchase of such products, which I have just mentioned said, there is a tax deduction of one and a half Ruble.
I propose to extend such a tax benefit to the purchase of Russian high-tech equipment in general. I ask the Government to make proposals on the list of such equipment by the sectors in which it is used and the procedure for granting benefits. It’s good. a solution that will revive the economy.
Third. The most important issue on the agenda development of economic growth is new sources of financing investments, we also talk about this a lot.
Thanks to a strong balance of payments, Russia does not need to borrow abroad, bowing, begging for money and then having a long dialogue about the fact that, how much and under what conditions to give. Domestic banks work stably and steadily, have a solid margin of safety.
In 2022, the volume of banking credits to the corporate sector have grown, you know, I’ve grown. There were a lot of concerns about this but growth was recorded, and increased by 14 percent, which is more than in 2021, without any military operation. Growth in 2021 was 11.7 percent, and now it’s 14 percent. The mortgage portfolio also added – 20.4 Percent. Development is underway.
At the end of last year, the banking sector as a whole worked with a profit. Yes, it is not as big as in previous years, but it is decent: the profit is 203 billion rubles. This is also an indicator of the stability of the Russian financial sector.
It is estimated that in the second quarter this year, inflation in Russia will approach the target level of four percent. Let me remind you that in some EU countries already 12, 17, 20 percent, we have four, well, five – the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance between they understand themselves, but it will be close to the target indicator. Given the positive dynamics of this and others. macroeconomic parameters are formed objective conditions for reducing long-term credit rates in the economy, which means credit for the real sector should become more accessible.
Everywhere in the world important the source of investment resources is the long-term savings of citizens, and we also need to stimulate their inflow into the sphere of investment. I ask the Government to speed up the submission to the State Duma bills to launch the relevant of the state program since April of this year.
It is important to create additional conditions for citizens to invest money and earn money at home, within the country. In this case, it is necessary guarantee the safety of citizens’ investments in voluntary pension savings. There should be the same mechanism as in the banking insurance system. Deposits. Let me remind you that such deposits of citizens in the amount of up to one million 400 thousand rubles are insured by the state and their return is guaranteed. For voluntary pension savings, I propose set twice the amount – up to two million 800 thousand rubles. See also protect citizens’ investments in other countries long-term investment instruments, including from possible bankruptcy financial intermediaries.
Separate solutions are required for attracting capital to fast-growing and high-tech businesses. They will be provided with support for the placement of shares on the domestic stock market, including tax incentives, both for companies and for buyers of such shares.
The most important element economic sovereignty is the freedom of enterprise. Let me repeat: it is private business against the background of external attempts to contain Russia proved that he can to adapt to the rapidly changing conjuncture, to ensure economic growth in difficult conditions. Therefore every business initiative aimed at benefiting the country should be supported.
In this regard, I believe it is right to return to the issue of revising a number of norms of criminal legislation regarding the so-called economic compositions. Of course, the state must control that in this area is happening, we must not allow there is permissiveness here, but to go too far also to no avail. It is necessary to move more actively towards this decriminalization, which I have mentioned. I hope that The government, together with the parliament, law enforcement agencies, and business associations, will consistently and thoroughly carry out this work.
Simultaneously I ask the Government, in close contact with the Parliament, to propose additional measures that will speed up the process of deoffshorization of the economy. Business first of all, in key sectors and industries, should operate in the Russian jurisdiction is a basic principle.
And in this regard, dear colleagues, a small philosophical digression. What would I like to say separately?
We remember the problems and imbalances that the late Soviet one faced. economics. Therefore, after the collapse of the Soviet Union The Union, its planned system, in the chaos of the 90s, the country began to create an economy based on market relations, private property – in general, that’s right. Largely an example here Western countries served – advisors, as you know, it was a dime a dozen – and it seemed enough just to copy their models. They are among themselves, however, still arguing, I remember this: Europeans argued with the Americans about how the Russian economy should develop.
What happened as a result? Our national economy to a large extent became oriented towards the West, and before that as a source of raw materials. The nuances, of course, were different, but in general as a source of raw materials. Reasons for this too clear: a new, emerging Russian the business was naturally targeted, like all other businesses in all other countries, primarily aimed at extracting profits, and quick and easy. And that her Brought? This is the sale of resources: oil, gas, metals, timber.
Few people thought about it, and maybe there was no such opportunity, to invest for a long time, so other, more complex industries economies were underdeveloped. And to break this negative trend – everyone has seen it perfectly, in all governments, it took us years, adjustment of the tax system and large-scale public investments.
We are have achieved real, visible change here. Yes the result is, however, I repeat, it is necessary take into account the situation in which our, primarily large, business developed. Technology in the West, cheaper financial sources and profitable markets sales – in the West, of course, and capital began to flow there. Unfortunately, instead of In order to expand production, to buy equipment and technologies, to create new jobs here, here in Russia, they were also spent on foreign estates, yachts, elite real estate.
Yes, then of course, we began to invest in development, of course, but at the first stage everything there was a wide flow. it went largely to these purposes – to consumption. And where there is wealth, there are, of course, children, their education, there is their lives, their future. And track, it was very difficult for the state to prevent such a development of the situation, almost impossible – we lived in the paradigm of the free market.
Recent events have convincingly shown that the image of the West as a safe haven and refuge it turned out to be a ghost, a fake. And those who did not understand it in time, who considered Russia only as a source of income, and planned to live mainly abroad, they lost a lot: they were simply robbed there, even legally taken away. earned funds.
Somehow as a joke – many people probably remember – addressing the representatives of the Russian I said, you’re going to swallow the dust, running around the courts and offices of Western officials, saving your money. That’s exactly how it turned out.
You know, I’m going to add a very important – simple, but very important – thing: none of the ordinary citizens of the country, believe me, did not pity those who lost their capital in foreign banks, did not spare those who lost yachts, palaces abroad and so on and so forth, and in conversations in the kitchen, people probably remembered the privatization of the 90s, when enterprises, created by the whole country, went for nothing, and ostentatious, demonstrative luxury of the so-called new Elite.
What else fundamentally important? All the years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the West did not give up trying to set fire to the post-Soviet states. and, most importantly, finally finish off Russia as the largest surviving part of our historical state space. Encouraged and set against us international terrorists, provoked regional conflicts along the perimeter of our borders, ignored our interests and used means of economic containment and suppression.
And big Russian business – why I’m saying all this – responds. for the work of strategic enterprises, for thousands of labor collectives, determines the socio-economic situation in many regions, which means the state of affairs: when the managers and owners of such a business are dependent on the governments that pursue an unfriendly policy with regard to Russia poses a great threat to us, a danger – a danger to our country. This situation can’t be tolerated.
Yes everyone has the opportunity to choose: someone will want to live out their life in an arrested mansion with blocked accounts, try to find a place, it would seem, in an attractive western capital or at a resort, in another warm place abroad – this is the right of any person, we even we’re not going to encroach on that. But it is time to understand that for the West such people were and will remain second-class outsiders, with whom you can do whatever you want, and money, and connections, and bought titles of counts, peers, mayors will not be helped here absolutely. They should understand: they are second class there.
But there is another choice: to be with your homeland, to work. for compatriots, not only to open new enterprises, but also to change life around them – in cities, towns, in their own Country. And such entrepreneurs, such we have a lot of real fighters in business – they are the future of domestic business. Everyone must understand: both the sources of well-being and the future must be only here, in my native country, in Russia.
And then we’re really going to create a solid one. a self-sufficient economy that does not close itself off from the world, but uses all its competitive advantages. Russian capital, money, which are received here should work for the country, for its national development. Today we have huge prospects in the development of infrastructure, manufacturing industry, domestic tourism, in many other industries.
I want to be heard by those who encountered the wolf habits of the West: try to run with an outstretched hand, humiliate yourself by begging for your money, pointless and, most importantly, useless, especially now that you have a good understanding of who Deal. Now don’t cling to it. for the past, to try to sue something, to beg. It is necessary to rebuild your life and your work, especially since you are strong people – I appeal to representatives Of our business, I know many people personally and for many years, who have gone through a difficult life school.
Run new projects, earn, invest in Russia, invest in enterprises and workplaces, help schools and universities, science and health, culture and sports. This is how you multiply your capital, and earn recognition, the gratitude of people for a generation to come, and the state and society you, will certainly support it.
Let’s assume that this is a parting words to our business – to build work in the right direction.
Dear colleagues!
Russia– an open country and at the same time an original civilization. There is no claim to exclusivity and superiority in this statement, but this civilization is ours – that’s what matters. It was passed on to us by our ancestors, and we must preserve it. it is for our descendants and pass it on.
We will develop cooperation with friends, with all those who are ready for joint work, we will adopt the best, but count first all for its potential, for the creative energy of Russian society, for its traditions and values.
And here I want to say about the character of our people: they have always been distinguished by generosity, breadth of soul, mercy and compassion, and Russia as a country fully reflects these features. We know how to make friends, keep our word, no one we will not let you down and we will always support you in a difficult situation, without hesitation we come to the aid of those who are in trouble.
Everyone remembers how during the pandemic we were – the first, in fact – supporting some European countries, including Italy, and others during the most challenging weeks of the COVID outbreak. Let’s not forget how we come to the rescue in the event of an earthquake in Syria, in Turkey.
Namely The people of Russia are the basis of the country’s sovereignty, the source of power. The rights and freedoms of our citizens are inviolable, they are guaranteed by the Constitution, and despite to external challenges and threats, we will not retreat from them.
In this regard, I want to emphasize that both the elections to local and regional authorities in September of this year, and the presidential elections in 2024 will be held in strict accordance with the law, in compliance with all democratic, constitutional Procedures.
Elections are always different approaches to solving social and economic Tasks. At the same time, the leading political forces are consolidated and united in the main thing, and most importantly, fundamental for all of us is the security and well-being of the people. sovereignty and national interests.
Want to to thank you for such a responsible, firm position and to remind you of the words of the patriot and statesman Peter Arkadyevich Stolypin – they were said in the State Duma more than a hundred years ago, but in full they are in tune with our times. He said: “In action We must all unite, harmonize our efforts, our responsibilities and our rights to maintain one russia’s right to be strong.”
Among the volunteers who are now on the front line, there are deputies of the State Duma and regional parliaments, representatives of executive authorities of different levels, municipalities, cities, districts, rural settlements. All parliamentary parties, leading public associations participate in the collection of humanitarian supplies, help the front.
Thank you again – thank you for such a patriotic position.
Huge the role in strengthening civil society, in solving everyday problems is played by local self-government – the most important a level of public authority close to the people. Trust in the state as a whole, social trust largely depends on his work. well-being of citizens, their confidence in success development of the whole country.
Please The Presidential Administration, together with the Government, should submit proposals on the creation of tools to directly support the best management companies. teams, practitioners in large, medium and small municipalities.
Free the development of society is the willingness to take responsibility for oneself and for loved ones, for one’s country. Such qualities are laid from childhood, in the family. And of course, to strengthen our common values, national identity are extremely important education system, national culture.
Using resources of the Presidential Grants Foundation, the Foundation cultural initiatives, Internet Development Institute, other tools, the state will support all forms of creative search – modern and traditional art, realism and avant-garde, classics and innovation. Business not in genres and directions. Culture is designed to serve goodness, beauty, harmony, to reflect on sometimes very complex, contradictory issues. life and the main thing is not to destroy society, but to awaken the best human qualities.
Development cultural sphere will become one of the priorities revival of peaceful life in Donbas and Novorossiya. Here you will need to restore, repair and equip hundreds cultural institutions, including museum funds and buildings, something that gives people the opportunity to feel the relationship between the past and the present, to connect it with the future, to feel belonging to a single cultural, historical, the educational space of centuries-old, great Russia.
With the participation of teachers, scientists, specialists, we must seriously improve the quality of school, university training courses, in the humanities, first of all, – history, social studies, literature, geography , so that young people can do as much as possible learn more about Russia, its great past, our culture and traditions.
We have a very bright, talented young generation that is ready to work for the benefit of the country in science, culture, social sphere, business and public administration. It is for such people that new horizons of professional growth open up the contest “Leaders of Russia”, as well as the ongoing now in the new subjects of the Federation competition “Leaders of Revival”.
I would like to note that a number of winners, finalists of these projects volunteered in combat units, many now working for the liberated territories, help to establish economic, social life, while acting professionally, decisively and courageously.
Generally there is no substitute for a school of warfare. Other people come out of there and are ready to lay down their lives for the Fatherland, wherever they work.
Want to it is those who were born and raised in the Donbass and Novorossiya, he fought for them, will be the main pillar, should be the main support in the overall work on the development of these regions. Want to to turn to them and say: Russia is on you Counts.
Taking into account the large-scale tasks facing the country, we should seriously update the approaches to the system training of personnel, to scientific and technological policy.
At the recent Council for Science and Education, we talked about the need to clearly set priorities, to concentrate resources for obtaining concrete, fundamentally significant scientific results, primarily in those areas where we have good groundwork and which have a critical importance for the life of the country, including transport, energy, the same system of housing and communal services, medicine, agriculture, industry.
At the heart of new technologies are almost always fundamental research, once made fundamental Research, and in this area, as well as in culture – I want to emphasise this – we must give scientists and researchers greater freedom for creativity. You can’t put everybody in a Procrustean bed. the results of tomorrow. Fundamental science lives by its own laws.
And I will add that the staging and decision of ambitious Tasks– this is a powerful incentive for young people to go into science, the opportunity to prove that you are a leader, that you are the best in the world. And our scientific teams have something to be proud of.
In December last year, I met with young researchers. One of the questions, which they put up is housing. The prose is like that, but it’s important. We already have housing certificates for young scientists. Last year an additional one billion rubles were allocated for these purposes. I instruct the Government Determine the reserves for the expansion of this program.
In recent years, the prestige and authority of the average professional have grown significantly. Education. Demand for technical school graduates and colleges are just huge, colossal. You see, if our unemployment has decreased to a historic low, 3.7 percent, it means that people are working, personnel are working. new ones are needed.
Believe that we must significantly expand the project “Professionality”, within the framework of which educational and production facilities are created clusters, the educational base is updated, and enterprises, employers in close contact with colleges and technical schools form educational programs based on the needs of the economy. And of course, it is very important, so that mentors with experience in real, complex production come to this area.
Task specific – to prepare for the next five years about a million specialists of working professions for the electronics industry, the robotics industry, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and defense industry, construction, transport, nuclear and other industries key to security, sovereignty and competitiveness Russia.
Finally a very important question is about our higher education. In here significant changes are also overdue, taking into account the new requirements for specialists in the economy, social industries, in all areas of our lives. It is necessary to synthesize all the best that was in the Soviet education system, and the experience of the latter Decades.
In this regard, the following is proposed.
The first is to return to the traditional base for our country. training of specialists with higher education. The duration of training can be from four to six years. At the same time, even within the framework of one specialty and one university, there can be proposed programs, different in terms of timing training, depending on the specific profession, industry and demand of the labor market.
Secondly, if the profession requires additional training, narrow specialization, then in this case the young person will be able to continue his education in the magistracy or residency.
Third – in a separate level of professional Postgraduate studies will be allocated, the task of which is to train personnel for scientific and teaching activities.
Want to Emphasize, the transition to the new system should be smooth. The government, together with parliamentarians, will need to make numerous amendments to the legislation on education, on the labor market and so on. further. Here you need to think everything through, to work out to the smallest detail. Young people, our citizens should have new opportunities for quality education, for employment, professional growth. Again, opportunities, not challenges.
And I would like to emphasize: those students who study now, they will be able to continue their education according to existing programs. And also not subject to revision of the level of training and diplomas of higher education of citizens who have already been trained in the current Bachelor’s, Specialist’s or Magistracy. They should not lose their rights. I ask the All-Russian Popular Front to take all the questions, related to changes in the field of higher education education, for special control.
This year is declared the Year in Russia teacher and mentor. Teacher, lecturer directly participates in the construction of the future of the country, and it is important to increase the social significance of teacher work, so that parents tell their children more about gratitude to the teacher, and teachers are about respect and love for parents. Let’s always remember that.
Separately I will focus on the support of childhood and Russian Families.
I would like to note that the so-called children’s budget, or the amount of budget expenditures for support In recent years, russia has grown by several percentages. He is the most a fast-growing section of the main financial a document of the country – the budget, the law on the budget. I want to thank the parliamentarians and the Government for such a single, consolidated understanding of our national Priorities.
Since February 1, maternity capital in Russia has again been indexed, as we said, by the amount of actual inflation over the past year, that is, by 11.9 percent. Right to such a measure Support now also exists among Russian citizens – residents new subjects of the Federation. Suggest provide maternity capital in Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions to families in which children were born since 2007, that is, from the moment when this program began to operate throughout Russia. Let me remind you that we have made the same decision. was adopted at one time for residents of Crimea and Sevastopol.
We will continue to implement large-scale programs aimed at improving welfare of Russian families.
I would like to emphasise that the Government and the constituent entities of the Federation have been given a substantive issue. the task is to ensure a noticeable, tangible growth real wages in Russia.
An important indicator, the starting point here is the minimum wage, as we well understand. Last year, it was raised twice, in total by almost 20 percent.
We will continue to increase the minimum the size of wages, and at a rate higher than inflation and wage growth. Since the beginning of this year, the minimum wage indexed by 6.3 percent.
Suggest from January 1 next year, in addition to the planned increase, one more for an additional ten Percent. Thus, the minimum amount of payment labor will grow by 18.5 percent and will amount to 19,242 rubles.
For now As for the adjustment of the tax system in the interests of Russian families: starting last year, families with two or more children are exempt from paying sales tax housing, if they decide to purchase a new, more spacious apartment or house.
We need to make more active use of such tools – they turned out to be in demand – so that family budgets would have more money, and families could decide the most important, pressing issues.
Suggest increase the amount of social tax deduction: for expenses for the education of children – from the current 50 thousand to 110 thousand rubles per year, and on expenses for own training, as well as for treatment and purchase of medicines – from 120 to 150 thousand rubles. 13 percent of these increased amounts will be returned by the state citizens from the income paid by them Tax.
And of course, it is necessary not only raise the deduction amount, but also increase its relevance so that the deduction is provided in proactive mode, quickly and remotely, not burdensome for citizens.
Further: well-being, quality of life of Russian people families, and hence the demographic situation, directly depend on the state of affairs in the social sphere.
I know that many regions of the Russian Federation are ready Significantly speed up the update of the social infrastructure, cultural and sports facilities, resettlement of emergency housing, integrated development of rural areas. Such an attitude will certainly be supported.
We use the following mechanism here: funds for national projects, which reserved in the federal budget for 2024, the regions will be able to receive and use now through interest-free treasury loans – in April next year they will be automatically repaid. A good tool.
Let’s keep this issue on a constant basis. Operational control, and I ask the State Council Commission to join this work in the direction of “Economics and Finance”.
At the same time, we there is no need for stormtrooperism and the pursuit of volumes, especially at the expense of quality objects under construction. Additional financial resources must work with high efficiency and effectiveness.
This is especially important for modernization primary health care – such a large-scale program was launched in 2021. I ask the Government and the heads of the regions not to forget that the main criterion – I have already said this many, many times – is not the figures in the reports, but specific, visible, tangible changes in the availability and quality of medical care.
See also The Government to adjust the regulatory framework for the organization of procurement ambulances with a set diagnostic equipment. They make it possible to carry out medical examinations, preventive examinations directly at enterprises, schools, institutions, and remote settlements.
We have launched a large update program Schools. By the end of this year, a total of almost three and a half thousand school buildings will be put in order. Pay most of them are in rural areas We did it on purpose. Herein Such work is also unfolding in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, in kherson and Zaporozhye. Areas. It’s meaningful and visible, people. they really see what’s going on. It’s very good.
From 2025, federal funds for the repair and renovation of kindergartens, schools, technical schools and colleges will be allocated regions on a regular, systematic basis, in order to prevent in principle situations when buildings are in a neglected state.
Next: We set a significant goal for the period from 2019 to 2024 build more than 1300 new schools. 850 of them have already been opened. It is planned that Another 400 will be commissioned this year. I ask the regions to maintain these plans, clearly endure. Amount of funding for this programs from the federal budget from 2019 to 2024 – almost 490 billion rubles. We are not reducing these costs, we will preserve all this.
This year, we have increased the volume of infrastructure budget loans. We are sending an additional – I want to emphasise this – not as planned before, but an additional 250 billion rubles for the development of transport, municipal and other infrastructure in the regions.
I instruct the Government to allocate another 50 billion rubles in addition to these funds – they will be earmarked for the renewal of public transport in the regions this year, and on the basis of modern technologies. At the same time, I ask for special attention here should be paid to small towns and rural areas.
We have already decided to extend the Clean Air project until 2030, the purpose of which is to improve its health. environmental situation in the largest industrial centers. I would like to draw the attention of industrial companies and regional and local authorities to the challenge. significantly reduce harmful emissions from the agenda is not removed.
I would like to add that we have made good progress in reforming the waste management industry. We are increasing our processing and sorting capacity to move to a circular economy. Priority – further elimination of old landfills and dangerous objects of accumulated harm. Please The government, together with the regions, is already preparing a list of those objects of accumulated harm that will be to be liquidated after the end of the existing one Program.
We will continue the improvement of unique water facilities, including Lake Baikal and the Volga, and in the medium term we will extend this work to such our rivers as the Don, Kama, Irtysh, Ural, Terek, Volkhov and Neva, Lake Ilmen. Must not forget about our medium and small rivers. I draw the attention of all levels of government to this.
On the instruction that was given earlier, a draft law on development has also been prepared tourism in specially protected natural areas. Recently, we discussed it with our colleagues from the Government. He should clearly define what and where it is possible, and what it is impossible to build, and in general the principles of work ecotourism industry. This is a very important issue for our country. I ask the State Duma to speed up consideration of this Bill.
For now a few more words about what’s going on all around us.
Colleagues, I will focus on one more topic.
In early February of this year, a statement was made by the North Atlantic an alliance with a de facto demand that Russia, as they put it, return to the implementation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, including the admission of inspections to our nuclear forces. defense facilities. But I don’t even know how it is. call. It’s a theater of the absurd.
We know that the West is directly involved in the Kiev regime’s attempts to strike at the bases of our strategic aviation. The drones used for this were equipped and modernized with the assistance of NATO specialists. And now they are. Do they also want to inspect our defense facilities? In modern conditions today’s confrontation it sounds like some kind of nonsense simply.
Herewith– I would like to draw your special attention to this – we are not allowed to carry out full-fledged inspections within the framework of this treaty. Our repeated applications for inspection of certain objects remain unanswered or rejected on formal grounds And we can’t really verify anything on the other side.
I want to emphasize: the United States and NATO directly say that their goal is to inflict Russia’s strategic defeat. And what, after it’s like nothing they’re going to do. to travel to our defence facilities, including the newest ones? A week ago, for example, I have signed a decree on putting new land-based strategic complexes on combat duty. Are they going to stick their nose in there too? And they think that it’s so simple – are we going to let them in there just like that?
By performing with its collective statement, NATO actually made an application to become a member Treaty on Strategic Offensive Arms. We agree with that, please. Moreover, we believe that such a statement of the question has long been Let me remind you that NATO consists of more than one nuclear power – the United States, the UK and France also have nuclear arsenals, they are being improved. they are also developing and are also directed against us – they are also directed against Russia. Last the statements of their leaders only confirm this – listen.
Ignore we just can’t, we don’t have the right to do that, especially. today, as is the fact that the first Strategic Offensive Treaty armament was originally concluded by the Soviet The Union and the United States in 1991 in a fundamentally different situation: in the conditions of reducing tensions and strengthening mutual trust. In the future, our the relationship has reached a level where Russia and the U.S. say they don’t count anymore each other’s opponents. Wonderful, everything was very good.
The existing 2010 Treaty contains the most important provisions on indivisibility security, about the direct interconnection of issues strategic offensive and defensive weapons. All this has long been forgotten, the United States withdrew from the ABM Treaty, as you know, everything is in the past. Our relations, which is very important, have deteriorated, and this is entirely the “merit” of the United States. States.
It was they, it was they who, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, began to revise the results of the Second World War, to building an American-style world in which there is only one master, one master. To do this, they began to grossly destroy all the foundations of the world order, founded after World War II to erase the legacy of both Yalta and Potsdam. Step by step began to revise the existing world order, dismantle the security and control systems over armaments, planned and implemented a whole series of wars around the world.
And all, I repeat, with one goal – to break the one created after the Second World War. architecture of international relations. This is not a figure of speech – this is how in practice, in life everything happens: after the collapse of the USSR, they forever strive to fix their global domination, disregarding the interests of modern Russia and the interests of other countries too.
Of course the situation in the world changed after 1945. New centers of development and influence have been formed and are rapidly developing. It’s natural, objective. a process that cannot be ignored. But it is unacceptable that the United States began to reshape the world order only for itself, solely in its own selfish interests.
Now, through NATO representatives, signals are being sent, and in fact, they are putting forward, ultimatum: you, Russia, do whatever it is about agreed, including the START Treaty, unquestioningly, and we will lead yourself as you please. Like, there’s no the links between start and, say, the conflict in Ukraine, other hostile actions of the West against our countries, as well as there are no loud statements that they want to inflict a strategic defeat on us. This is or the height of hypocrisy and cynicism, or the top nonsense, but you can’t call them idiots – they still not stupid people. They want to inflict a strategic defeat on us and they are climbing into our nuclear facilities.
In this regard, I am forced to declare today that Russia is suspending its participation. in the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Arms. I repeat, it does not withdraw from the Treaty, no, namely, suspends its participation. But before to return to the discussion of this issue, we must understand for ourselves what such countries still claim. North Atlantic Alliance, like France and Great Britain, and how we will take into account their strategic arsenals, that is, the total strike potential of the alliance.
They have now made their statement, in fact, an application for participation in this process. Well, thank goodness, come on, we don’t mind. There is no need to just try to lie to everyone again, to build yourself up as advocates of peace and détente. We know the ins and outs: we know, that the warranty periods for the combat use of certain types of nuclear weapons are expiring United States. And in this regard, some figures in Washington, we have this. it is known for certain, they are already thinking about the possibility of natural tests of its nuclear weapons, including taking into account the fact that the United States is developing new types of nuclear weapons. Such information is available.
In this situation, the Russian Ministry of Defense and Rosatom should ensure readiness to test Russian nuclear weapons. First Of course, we will not do this, but if the United States conducts tests, then we will conduct them. No one should be dangerous. illusions that the global strategic parity can be destroyed.
Dear colleagues! Dear citizens of Russia!
Today we are going through a difficult, difficult path together and overcome everything. difficulties are also together. It couldn’t have been any other way. after all, we are brought up on the example of our greats ancestors and are obliged to be worthy of their covenants, which are passed down from generation to generation. We’re going only forward thanks to devotion to the Motherland, will and our unity.
This cohesion manifested itself literally from the first days of a special military operation: hundreds volunteers, representatives of all peoples of our country came to the military enlistment offices, accepted the decision to stand next to the defenders of Donbass, to fight for their native land, for the Fatherland, for truth and justice. Right away shoulder to shoulder on the front lines fighting warriors from all regions of our multinational homeland. Their prayers are heard in different languages, but all they are for victory, for comrades-in-arms, for the Motherland. (Applause.)
Their hard, military work, their feat find a powerful response throughout Russia. People support our fighters, they do not want to, they cannot stand aside. The front is now passing through the hearts of millions of our people, they send to the front line medicines, means of communication, equipment, transport, warm clothes, camouflage networks and so on – anything that helps save the lives of our guys.
I know how letters of children, schoolchildren warm the front-line soldiers. They take them with them into battle as the most expensive, because the sincerity and purity of children’s wishes touch to tears, the fighters have a growing understanding of what they are fighting for, who they are fighting for. Protect.
Very significant for warriors and their families, for civilians and the care that surrounds their volunteers. From the very beginning of the special operation, they act boldly and decisively: under fire, shelling, they take children, the elderly, everyone who was in trouble from the basements, they were taken to hot spots and are still doing it. Food, water, clothing, unfold for refugee humanitarian aid centers, help in field hospitals and on the line combat contact, risking yourself, save and continue to save others.
Only the Popular Front in the framework of the initiative “Everything for Victory!” collected more than five billions of rubles. Such a flow of donations is constant. It’s the same here. everyone’s contribution is important: both a large company and entrepreneurs, but they are especially touching and inspiring situations when people with modest incomes transfer part of their savings, salaries and pensions. Such unity to help our soldiers, civilians in the zone fighting, refugees are worth a lot.
Thank you for this sincere support, cohesion, mutual assistance. They’re impossible. overestimate.
Russia will respond to any challenges, because we are all one a country, one big and united people. We are self-confident, confident in their abilities. The truth is ours. (Applause.)
Thank you.