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Falling demand is most sensitive issue for economy, Putin says

The volume of retail trade, retail sales in Russia fell by more than 35% in April, the president said

NOVO-OGAREVO, April 14. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin is concerned about a significant decline in demand and in retail sales.

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"Decline in demand is the most sensitive problem for companies - both in our country and in other countries. The volume of retail trade, retail sales in Russia fell by more than 35% in April," the head of state said at a meeting on economic issues.

In his opinion, "this shows how sharply, almost instantly, the market has contracted." Putin stressed that "for many enterprises this is a real shock."

"Consumption of energy resources is another integral indicator of the state of the economy. And again, the dynamics is, unfortunately, negative there," the President said.

According to him, "in the first 12 days of April, electricity consumption decreased by 5% compared to the same period last year, which means that enterprises started to load their capacities less."

"Besides that, there has been a real stagnation in lending to the real sector of the economy. This means that many investment plans of companies, development and renewal programs of enterprises have been put on hold," the head of state said.

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Russia ready for Ukraine talks, but not with Zelensky — Lavrov

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Switzerland does not suit Russia for negotiations on Ukraine — Lavrov

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Israeli aviation strikes towns in Gaza Strip

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Death toll in Gaza Strip since tensions escalated exceeds 34,000 — Health Ministry

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

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Language policy of Moldovan government is Russophobic — head of Gagauzia region

Evgenia Gutsul was referring to the demand the People's Assembly of Gagauzia made for Moldovan legislators to uphold the status of Russian as the language of interethnic communication in the region

Senior Chinese official to take part in conference on security in Russia — diplomat

The conference will take place from April 23 to 25 in St. Petersburg

US assured Israel that Iranian drones will be intercepted — US journalist Hersh

He also said that the US military contacted Russia and the United Kingdom while evaluating the potential of the Iranian attack

Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

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Ukraine’s new ethnic minorities law insufficient to protect Magyars — Hungarian president

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Russia views the West’s encroachment on its assets as "a blatant and shameless theft for the purpose of lining its pockets," Maria Zakharova noted

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

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Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

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Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

Putin signs law on holding World Friendship Games

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BRICS looking at creating common digital payment platform

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that BRICS nations have already established a special channel for information exchange between their central banks

Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

Chinese analyst sees US veto on Palestine as reflection of arrogance, double standards

Wang Wen stated that it’s still very hard to achieve a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Grossi ignores ‘elephant in the room’ in Zaporozhye nuke plant situation — Russian envoy

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Russia to scrap moratorium on intermediate missiles if US deploys them anywhere — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov said the US seeks to maintain military superiority in a great variety of areas

Drones downed over Isfahan cause no damage, says Iranian foreign minister

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North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

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Lavrov says Borrell let it slip that Europe ‘fighting against Russia’

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Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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Russia urges the International Monetary Fund to resume the effort of improving the global monetary and financial system, Anton Siluanov noted

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Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia, became full-fledged members of BRICS from January 1, 2024

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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NATO discussing transfer of ‘deep precision strike capabilities’ to Ukraine — Stoltenberg

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G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

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Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

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Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

Arnulf Damerau said that he provided details of the meeting, along with evidence and a list of names of those involved, to US and European intelligence agencies

Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

Donald Tusk said that German Chancellor’s call to send more air defense systems to Kiev had no relation to Poland, provided the country's geographical position near the frontline

Russian stock indices rising on Friday

The MOEX Russia Index edged up by 0.44%, the RTS Index surged by 1.13%

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