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RUSSIA'S ECONOMY

Moody's forecasts Russia’s annual GDP growth at 1.5% in 2017-2018

Moody’s expects that the general government deficit will narrow to 1.8% of GDP by 2018

MOSCOW, May 22. /TASS/. International rating agency Moody's expects Russia’s GDP to grow annually by 1.5% in 2017 and 2018, the agency said in a press release.

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"Moody's forecasts that real GDP growth will increase by 1.5% per year in 2017 and 2018, with private consumption and investment spending supported by gains in household real incomes and gradually easing monetary policy. Still, an ageing population is among the constraints expected to prevent Russia's potential growth from expanding in the absence of fundamental structural reforms," the press release said.

Moody’s expects that the general government deficit will narrow to 1.8% of GDP by 2018 from 3.7% of GDP in 2016, "driven mainly by a reduction of the deficit at the federal level, while other budgets, including the regions, should be broadly balanced."

Earlier, Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin said that the growth of Russian GDP in the second half of the year may exceed 2% in annual terns. The IMF, in turn, assessed the growth prospects of the Russian economy at 1.5% per year.

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

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Mohamed Toumba noted that the training of troops could help in the fight against terrorism

Ukrainian army short about 150,000-200,000 troops, says Polish general

Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

Putin informed about detention of Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov

Minister Sergey Shoigu was also informed beforehand, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

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US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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UNSC rejects amendment by Russia, China to resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space

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Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

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Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

The total amount of blocked assets of the Russian Federation decreased by 150 million Swiss francs (about $165 million) due to the fact that a number of individuals "were removed from the EU sanctions lists"

IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

US military aid for Kiev cannot stop Russian army’s advance — North Korean diplomat

The US Congress House of Representatives earlier passed bills on military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

Men of conscription age try to leave the country in every possible way, often putting their lives at risk

Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

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Stockmann company to buy Russian business of Hugo Boss — Industry Ministry

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

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