MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. The Russian authorities have been and will continue fulfilling their obligations to the country’s people despite a rise in defense spending, President Vladimir Putin said during his combined Direct Line Q&A session and year-end press conference.

"I am pleased to note that the Russian government has been successful [in fulfilling its obligations]. Despite a rise in defense and security spending, we are fully meeting our obligations to the people. Completely," he stated.

However, Putin noted that "one can always say that it’s not enough and more should be done, with more money allocated for resettlement purposes, and so on." "Still, the government has been and will continue fulfilling the promises that it makes publicly," Putin emphasized.