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Putin to speak at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

The president is expected to address the guests and participants of the forum with a big speech in which he will outline his vision of further development of the Russian economy

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg EPA/MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV / RIA NOVOSTI / KREMLIN POOL MANDATORY CREDIT

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg

© EPA/MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV / RIA NOVOSTI / KREMLIN POOL MANDATORY CREDIT

ST. PETERSBURG, June 19. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak on Friday at a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the Kremlin reported. The topic of the discussion the Russian head of state will take part in is "Time to Act: By Joint Efforts to Stable Growth".

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The president is expected to address the guests and participants of the forum with a big speech in which he will outline his vision of further development of the Russian economy in conditions of an unfavorable external situation and unprecedented sanctions pressure. Putin will also answer questions. The contents of the report are kept secret. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier denied assumptions of a number of media that Putin will allegedly announce cancelation of certain big projects and does not plan to speak of serious reforms.

The president will also continue a series of meetings with foreign leaders and experts started the day before. Of special interest will be his upcoming talk with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, which will be held against a background of intensive talks Athens is holding with international creditors to settle the €240-billion debt.

Putin will also continue meetings with the business community. The president’s working day will end with a conversation with the heads of world information agencies, including TASS. A similar meeting closed Putin’s working program at last year’s SPIEF.

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Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed to media reports, according to which Ukrainian embassies in a number of countries are openly campaigning local citizens to join the so-called International Legion of Ukrainian Territorial Defense

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

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