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PUTIN'S INTERVIEW TO TASS

National Wealth Fund may be used to support some groups of the population — Putin

Putin said that the National Wealth Fund had exceeded 7% of the GDP

MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin does not rule out the possibility that the National Wealth Fund might be used to support some groups of the population.

Interviewed for the TASS project entitled "20 Questions with Vladimir Putin" the head of state said that the National Wealth Fund had exceeded 7% of the GDP, which allowed it to be used for investment.

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Putin highlights Russia’s middle class as comprising more than 70% of population

"The question is what should we spend the money on? On investments, on support for certain groups of the population, and so forth. This is what our discussion is revolving around nowadays," he said.

The Russian authorities "need to fulfill a very important task - raising people's real income," he said. "We should think about the best use of the available resources which are large enough."

According to the Ministry of Finance, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) in February 2020 was up by 409 billion rubles (5.2%) to a total of 8.249 trillion rubles - an equivalent of $123.4 billion (7.3% of the GDP) as of March 1. The liquid part of the NWF at the beginning of March stood at 6.568 trillion rubles, an equivalent of $98.044 billion, or 5.8% of the 2020 GDP forecast.

Episode 16 of the video interview is available at https://putin.tass.ru/en.

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Russia’s Energy Minister adding that the US LNG is "uncompetitive as of today"

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Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

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Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

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Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

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Civilian industrial complex supplies Russian army with over 65 types of units — top brass

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov praised the new mechanisms for accelerating the introduction of advanced weapons and equipment developed by the civilian defense industrial complex in the interests of the Russian army

West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the rhetoric about "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia" is firmly rooted in the mentality of the NATO regimes not at all as hypothetical assumptions

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Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

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Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

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The married couple, Artyom Dultsev and Anna Dultseva, returned home as a result of an exchange

Mourhaf Abu Qasra becomes top Syrian defense official in transitional government — TV

According to Al Watan newspaper, Abu Qasra was the commander of the military wing of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham movement

Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

German chancellor exasperated by idea of spending frozen Russian assets to help Kiev

According to the Financial Times, the idea was promoted by the US and UK but resisted by Germany, France and Italy

Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

In general, "quite active hostilities" are taking place near Dvurechnaya and Lozovaya in the Kupyansk sector of the line of engagement, Andrey Marochko noted

Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

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Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

Kremlin mum on reports about Slovakian prime minister's plans to visit Moscow

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Air raid alert issued in six Ukrainian regions

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Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

Embassies of 12 countries closed in North Korea amid shortage of goods

All foreign personnel of international humanitarian organizations have also left, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said

Banks find opportunity to work under sanctions — Central Bank chief

It does not mean there will be no such risks in the future but it is very important in this regard for the financial stable to remain stable, Elvira Nabiullina said

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Ukrainian lawmaker slams Zelensky for trying to bribe Slovak PM

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Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

According to John Mearsheimer, Russia has become much stronger over the past two to three years because it has managed to become "a truly sovereign country"

Yemeni capital city subjected to massive airstrike - TV channel

According to the Al Hadath TV channel, at least three strikes hit Ansar Allah military facilities located in Sanaa, including rebel locations

US defense companies capitalize the most on Ukraine conflict — Russia’s UN envoy

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Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

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Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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According to US Central Command, the incident occurred during airstrikes on Houthi facilities

Trump wants NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP — FT

The sources also told the Financial Times that Donald Trump intends to continue the military aid to Ukraine despite the statements he made during his presidential campaign

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Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

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Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

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Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

Russia to invite World War II allies to next year’s Victory Day parade

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Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 16th

Putin sends greetings on Russia’s Energy Industry Worker’s Day

Russian leader stressed that, thanks to their dedication, 'the industry is becoming more and more high-tech with every new year'

Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

"Let them choose a target, say, in Kiev, and amass their air and missile defense systems there, while we will launch an Oreshnik missile at the target," the Russian leader said

Kremlin spokesman clarifies Putin’s statement about Oreshnik 'duel'

"It is very important to talk about these statements by the president in the context of the question he was asked," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

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Four new Russian regions moving toward self-sufficiency at a rapid pace — Putin

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Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

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Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

The Russian Defense Ministry has also purchased more than 100,000 units from small design bureaus and civilian manufacturers, the statement said

Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

Series of explosions rock central Kiev — eyewitnesses

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported about explosions in the capital, and local authorities informed about the work of air defenses

Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

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Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

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Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

Scholz, German Interior Minister booed during visit to terrorist attack site — newspaper

A protest broke out during the chancellor's and minister's visit, with demonstrators whistling and shouting "Get out!"

PREVIEW: Putin expected to unveil several transport facilities

According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin has several closed-door meetings slated for December 22

Slovak PM to visit Moscow for talks with Putin, Serbian president says

"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

Russia’s international reserves up by $3.8 bln to $618.2 bln over week — Central Bank

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

The Russian president recalled that no Russian land troops had been deployed to Syria, with Russia having only an airbase and a naval base

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

Syria's new authorities appoint Asaad Hassan al-Shibani as foreign minister

The SANA news agency said al-Shibani previously headed the political department of the National Salvation Government

Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

According to Andrey Kelin, the UK’s official reaction to the launch of the Oreshnik missile was rather vague

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

Russian troops liberate 10 communities in Donbass region over week — top brass

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Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 18th

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added