The president has laid out economic, security and social priorities for the newly elected State Duma<\/p>\n
Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed the newly elected State Duma for the first time, outlining priorities from economic self-reliance and social spending to defense and long-term national security.
\nSpeaking at the opening session of the ninth convocation of the lower house of parliament on Wednesday, Putin urged lawmakers to avoid economic missteps and \u201cdestructive populism,\u201d stressing that Russia has the resources it needs to achieve its goals without outside assistance.
\nHere are the key takeaways from the president\u2019s address.<\/p>\n
\u2018We don\u2019t need handouts\u2019
\nRussia will not go around the world \u201cbegging for handouts with an outstretched hand,\u201d Putin said while discussing the country\u2019s finances and the new federal budget.
\n\u201cFirstly, because it is humiliating. Secondly, nobody will give us anything, we know that very well. And thirdly \u2013 and most importantly \u2013 we don\u2019t need it,\u201d he said.
\nPutin described Russia\u2019s financial system and economy as confident, but warned that mistakes are \u201cabsolutely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
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He called for a balanced and realistic budget, while demanding that the government fully fund national projects and federal programs and meet all of its social commitments.
\nPutin also called for measures to boost investment and urged lawmakers to reduce administrative barriers for businesses.
\nSecurity and the Ukraine conflict
\nDefense and support for Russian troops and their families should remain among parliament\u2019s top priorities, Putin said.
\nLawmakers must focus on issues of \u201cstate importance,\u201d strengthen the country\u2019s defense capabilities and \u201cdo everything for our victory,\u201d according to the president.
\nPutin also welcomed veterans of the Ukraine conflict elected to the new parliament, saying they had already demonstrated their commitment to the country \u201con the battlefield.\u201d
\nHe said national unity would allow Russia to \u201cachieve its goals\u201d and provide \u201creliable guarantees of security and sovereignty\u201d for generations to come.<\/p>\n
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Kremlin reacts to Ukraine\u2019s attack on Russian elections<\/p>\n
Developing the new regions
\nThe first sitting coincided with Russia\u2019s Day of Reunification, marking four years since Moscow incorporated the Donetsk and Lugansk People\u2019s Republics and the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions following referendums in September 2022.
\nPutin described the vote to join Russia as \u201cclear\u201d and \u201clawful,\u201d and said the entire country is now involved in rebuilding and developing the territories.
\nThe four regions are represented in the State Duma for the first time following this month\u2019s election.
\nPutin said residents who went to the polls despite shelling and threats had demonstrated that the Russian people \u201ccannot be broken or intimidated.\u201d
\nElection shows \u2018national unity\u2019
\nThe September 18-20 vote was accompanied by a massive Ukrainian drone raid targeting Moscow and other Russian regions.<\/p>\n
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\u2018Victory will be ours\u2019 \u2013 Putin<\/p>\n
Russian officials said more than 1,600 UAVs were repelled, including 450 on approaches to the capital, describing the unprecedented attack as an attempt to disrupt the elections. At least two civilians were reported killed in Moscow Region.
\nPutin said the turnout and election results had reaffirmed the strength of Russia\u2019s multiparty political system and national unity in the face of what he called \u201chistoric challenges.\u201d
\nThe ruling United Russia party secured 349 of the State Duma\u2019s 450 seats. Putin told the newly elected deputies that they bore a \u201cparticular responsibility\u201d to voters and urged them to remain closely engaged with the people they represent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The president has laid out economic, security and social priorities for the newly elected State Duma Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed the newly elected State Duma for the first…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39128,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t