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RUSSIA'S ECONOMY

Media: Finance ministry's proposal to freeze nominal budget spending for 3 years approved

The Russian Finance Ministry proposed to set the budget spending in 2017-2019 at 15.78 trillion rubles ($246.28 bln) per year, less than the revised volume of spending for 2016

© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

MOSCOW, July 5. /TASS/. The Russian Finance Ministry’s proposal to freeze the federal budget spending in nominal terms for 3 years was approved on Monday at a meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vedomosti newspaper reports, citing a meeting participant and two federal officials.

The ministry of finance proposed to set the budget spending in 2017-2019 at 15.78 trillion rubles ($246.28 bln) per year, less than the revised volume of spending for 2016.

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"No decisions have been made, as the Commission does not make such decisions. The finance ministry presented proposals," Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's spokeswoman Natalia Timakova has said. Nevertheless, all the meeting participants agreed with the approach, practically approving the proposal, a meeting attendee said. "Although every minister spoke out and many complained about scarcity of money for all the expenses. These comments will be reviewed and a decision will be presented on Thursday," the source said.

"The approach was adopted, redistribution within program expenditure articles is possible," another federal official said - the president also agrees with freezing expenditures. The exact figures will be adjusted, the source concluded.

According to the Russian Finance Ministry's proposal, spending on 36 out of 43 state programs (roughly half of the budget) are declining even in nominal value, except retirement costs, economic development and management of public finances (national debt).

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French mercenaries operate Caesar howitzers in Ukraine — French reporter

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Russian foreign ministry blames Paris for death of French mercenaries in Kharkov

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Russia’s UN envoy says statements by West expose Kiev’s responsibility for attacks on ZNPP

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Yury Borisov noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was used no more than ten times

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Ukraine suffered substantial power generation losses over recent weeks — minister

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Europe may soon toughen policy on Ukrainian migrants — expert

Vilde Hernes stressed that the protection permits for Ukrainian migrants contain many restrictions "such as fewer integration measures, less financial assistance, and no path to permanent residency"

Russia developing Start-1M carrier rocket as derivative of Topol-M ICBM — source

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Ukraine offers to use neighbors' air defense systems to protect its gas storage facilities

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Ukraine actively uses Caesar self-propelled howitzers in Zaporozhye Region — politician

Vladimir Rogov did not specified the amount of Ukrainian equipment

Iran has warned US that Israeli response would set off harsh retaliation — minister

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the statement as he spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi

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Russia open to help resolve situation in Sudan — ambassador

Andrey Chernovol recalled that the Russian embassy is currently located in the temporary capital of Sudan, Port Sudan, and diplomats are in contact with the country's official authorities

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Rafael Grossi reminded the Security Council that last year he outlined the principles of ensuring safety at the ZNPP to avert the danger of a nuclear incident and called on Russian and Ukraine to observe them

Senior Russian diplomat warns about proportional response to threats coming from Finland

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According to Wei Dongxu, Tehran's firepower can cover most of the Middle East region, representing a fierce and precise long-range retaliatory means

Russian envoy calls UN Security Council meeting on Iran strike parade of hypocrisy

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Roscosmos committed to continued collaboration with NASA — CEO

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Putin signs decree on spring draft to armed forces

The document also dismisses soldiers, sailors, sergeants and petty officers, whose conscription time span has expired

Freshly mobilized Ukrainian soldiers holding first-line defense in Chasov Yar, says DPR

Igor Kimakovsky said that the Ukrainian combat group in Chasov Yar is suffering heavy casualties

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The killing of civilians visiting a cemetery is shocking in its cruelty and cynicism Putin said

EU’s oil import dependency at its highest in 2022 — Eurostat

The dependence on imported crude oil also increased in 2022, reaching 97.6%, the agency noted

Russian, Tajik troops kick off joint military drills in Tajikistan

The joint bilateral exercise is running on April 15-18, 2024

Police detain 14 people at rally in Georgia

The Georgian Interior Ministry said that one police member was injured

Israel remains on highest alert as it chooses response to Iran’s attack — senior commander

"Iran will face the consequences for its actions," IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said

Demarche delivered to UK consul general in Yekaterinburg over propaganda work

Alexander Kharlov also specified that the provision of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the bilateral Consular Convention on the need for foreign diplomats to comply with the laws and rules of the host country had been reiterated to Kotecha

Israel considering retaliatory steps following Iranian attack — top brass

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Iran sought to ‘graduate’ scale of damage during attack on Israel, EU’s Borrell says

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Hamas not to make any concessions on Israeli troops’ withdrawal from Gaza

Izzat al-Rishq noted that Israel’s attempts to release its hostages held by radicals in the Gaza Strip have failed and "there is no alternative to a real deal on this matter with Palestinian groups"