On December 19, 2023, a major press conference dedicated to the results of the year was held in Moscow with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
During this meeting, the head of state made important statements on economic, budgetary, and financial issues. During the approximately 4.5-hour dialogue, Putin provided detailed information about economic growth, inflation, the budget, and international financial relations.
According to the President, the gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2023 will amount to 1 percent. It was noted that over the past three years, the overall economic growth has reached 9.7 percent.
Putin explained the slight slowdown in economic momentum not as a coincidence, but as a result of policies aimed at curbing inflation. He emphasized that by the end of the year, the inflation rate is expected to be around 5.7–5.8 percent, which is important for ensuring macroeconomic stability.
Regarding the budget, the Russian leader gave a positive assessment of the government's work. The state budget is balanced, maintaining the level of 2021.
In the President's opinion, such stability is a key achievement of Russia's economy and financial system. The possibility of seizure of Russian assets abroad was also discussed at the conference.
Putin sharply criticized such actions, describing them as looting. According to him, these decisions seriously damage financial trust and, in turn, may weaken confidence in the Eurozone.
Considering that many countries' gold and foreign currency reserves are stored precisely in Europe, these consequences will clearly have a negative impact on the global financial system as well. At the press conference, Putin emphasized that Russia will protect its interests through international courts.
According to him, Moscow will take all measures to find a fair jurisdiction and to return assets seized abroad. Although this process is very complex, the President believes that Russia will continue to firmly defend its interests.
