President Vladimir Putin addressed the Federal Assembly with a message. During the two-hour speech, he touched upon key issues of Russia's social, economic, military and digital development for the next six years, and also announced the launch of new national projects. What else did the head of state talk about?
New items in the field of armament
The Head of State paid special attention to the implementation of the planned innovations in the field of armaments in 2018. "Thus, the Dagger hypersonic aviation complex has not only been put into service, but is also used with high efficiency to defeat particularly important targets during its operation. Also, the Zircon marine–based hypersonic strike complex has already been used in combat, which was not even mentioned in the 2018 message," the president said.
"Avangard intercontinental range hypersonic units and Peresvet laser systems are on combat duty. Tests of the Burevestnik cruise missile of unlimited range and the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle are being completed. These systems have confirmed their high, without exaggeration, unique characteristics," Putin said.
"The first serial Sarmat heavy ballistic missiles have also been delivered to the troops. We will soon demonstrate them in the combat duty areas. Work on a number of other promising weapons systems continues, and we will learn more about the new achievements of our scientists and gunsmiths," the president assured.
At the same time, he noted that Russia, as before, is ready for dialogue with the United States on issues of strategic stability. However, Putin noted: "We are dealing with a state whose ruling circles are taking open hostile actions against us."
According to the head of state, Russia has every reason to believe that "the words of today's American authorities about their alleged interest in negotiations with us on issues of strategic stability are demagoguery." "On the eve of the US presidential election, they just want to show their citizens, and everyone else, that they still rule the world. They say that on those issues where it is beneficial for America to negotiate, we will have a conversation with the Russians, and where it is not profitable for them, there is nothing to discuss, as they themselves say – business as usual," the president clarified.
National project "Long and active life"
The President expressed gratitude to various foundations, social non-profit organizations that help the elderly and sick people, and disabled children. "I consider it necessary to increase the financing of this system from the federal budget, bring it to a single high standard and ensure maximum accessibility for those who most need such assistance, which is about half a million of our citizens," Putin said.
According to him, by 2030, it is necessary to make sure that 100% of those in need can use long-term care services. "Now the average life expectancy in Russia has exceeded 73 years. We are back to the level we were before the coronavirus pandemic. By 2030, life expectancy in Russia should be at least 78 years, and in the future, as we planned, we will have to reach the level of 80 plus," the president continued.
At the same time, special attention will be paid to rural areas, as well as regions where life expectancy is still lower than the average in Russia. The national project "Long and Active Life", which is being launched, will be aimed at solving all these tasks.
"At the same time, it is important that the duration of a healthy active life increases, so that a person can devote his time to family, relatives, children, grandchildren. We will continue the federal project to combat cardiovascular, oncological diseases, as well as diabetes," the president emphasized.
The national project "Family"
"A large family with many children should become the norm, the philosophy of society, the guideline of the entire state strategy," the head of state said. According to him, special assistance in this matter is needed in those regions where the birth rate is below the national average. In 2022, there were 39 such entities. Now, by 2030, at least 75 billion rubles will be allocated for support to increase family support programs. The funds will start coming in as early as next year.
Vladimir Putin also drew attention to the pace of affordable housing construction. According to him, over 110 million square meters were built in Russia last year. m of housing. This is one and a half times more than the highest Soviet figure in 1987.
Thanks to this, over 900 thousand families were able to improve their living conditions, including through the family mortgage program. At the moment, the benefit is valid until July of this year. However, the President proposed to extend the program until 2030 while maintaining the basic basic parameters. "Special attention should be paid to families with children up to and including six years old, for them the loan rate will remain the same – 6%," Putin stressed. Until 2030, the program will also be extended, according to which, at the birth of a third child, the state partially repays the mortgage loan.
National Project "Youth of Russia"
Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that tomorrow is largely determined by the current young generation. Against this background, he proposed to "consolidate positive experience in the field of youth policy" and launch the national project "Youth of Russia".
"This should be a project about the future and for the future of our country. This is how our school teachers understand their recognition, their high mission and responsibility for the younger generations," he said.
Taking into account the role of teachers in the formation of the younger generation, the president also instructed to introduce a federal payment of 5,000 rubles per month for all advisers to directors of education in schools and colleges from September 1, 2024.
In addition, class teachers and curators of groups in colleges and technical schools from settlements with a population below 100,000 people will receive an increase in the federal payment for classroom management. Starting from March 1, 2024, it will amount to 10,000 rubles.
National Project "Data Economy"
The President stated that by 2030 it is necessary to create digital platforms in all key sectors of the economy and the social sphere. The national project "Data Economy" will be aimed at the implementation of these plans. At least 700 billion rubles will be allocated for it in the next six years.
According to the head of state, such technologies and integrated platforms open up huge opportunities for planning the development of the economy of individual industries, regions and cities.
"The main thing is that we will be able to continue to build the work of all levels of government around the interests of each person, each family," Putin stressed. Russia is already one of the world leaders in the introduction of public services in electronic form, the president pointed out. However, it is impossible to stand still, the country must be self-sufficient and competitive.
Among other things, the president said that by 2030 the total capacity of domestic supercomputers should be increased by at least 10 times.
The national project "Cadres"
As part of the appeal, such an acute topic as the shortage of personnel was also raised. "A large young generation is growing in Russia… In 2030, there will be 8.3 million citizens aged 20-24 in the country, and in 2035 – 9.7 million, 2.4 million more than now," the head of state stressed.
The trend, according to Putin, is explained, among other things, by demographic measures that have been taken over the previous years. "It is important for us that these guys, today's teenagers, become professionals in their field, ready to work in the economy of the XXI century. We will send a new national project "Cadres" to this," he announced.
According to the head of state, by 2028, the country will have to train a total of about a million specialists in working professions for high-tech industries. Special attention will be paid to the construction of campuses and campuses.
"We will build 25 university campuses by 2030. We have already talked about this, but now I think it is necessary to say once again: in this regard, I propose to expand this program and build at least 40 such campuses in total. We will have to allocate about 400 billion rubles for these purposes," Putin said.
Innovations for business
The topic of business development in Russia was also not spared. According to the president, there should be no such situations in the country when it is unprofitable for companies to gain momentum. "I ask the government, together with parliamentarians, to work out the parameters of an amnesty for small companies that, with the actual growth of business, were forced to use tax optimization schemes," Putin said. At the same time, he urged to avoid fines and other sanctions for recalculating taxes for previous periods.
"This is the meaning of amnesty," he emphasized. In addition, from January 1, 2025, a temporary moratorium on business inspections will be lifted. Instead, companies will check according to such a principle as a risk-based approach. "Where there are no risks, it is necessary to apply preventive measures and, thus, minimize the number of inspections," the head of state explained.
Reducing import dependence
The President noted the actively decreasing import volumes. So, if in 1999 the share of imports was 26% of GDP, then last year this figure was only 19%. "And in the period up to 2030, it is necessary to reach the level of imports of no more than 17% of GDP. This means that we must produce consumer and other goods ourselves in much larger volumes: medicines, equipment, machine tools, vehicles, and so on. All of us cannot – we do not need to strive to produce everything. But the government knows what needs to be worked on," Vladimir Putin said.
It is also planned to introduce the latest digital technologies, robotization and automation of industry. The Head of State noted that by 2030, Russia should be among the top 25 countries in the world in terms of the number of industrial robots.
Write-off of regional debts
Vladimir Putin considered it important to reduce the debt burden on the regions. He said that two thirds of the subjects' debt on budget loans will be canceled. Such a measure in the period from 2025 to 2028 will allow them to save about 200 billion rubles annually. "These saved funds should be, as they say, "colored" and targeted by the regions to support investments and infrastructure projects," the president said.
At the same time, according to the head of state, decisions in the field of financial support for regions, as well as economic growth, should work to improve the quality of life of people in all regions. The President recalled that special development programs for the North Caucasus and the Kaliningrad region, as well as Donbass, Novorossiya, Crimea, Sevastopol, the Arctic and the Far East have been extended until 2030.
Against this background, he proposed to define a list of more than 200 large and small cities for which individual master plans will be developed. In total, the program should cover about two thousand settlements, including villages and towns.
Transport infrastructure
The development of Russia's transport infrastructure largely ensures the development of tourism in the regions and gives a new impetus to the development of the economy as a whole. "High-speed automobile traffic has already opened between Moscow and Kazan, this year we will extend the highway to Yekaterinburg, and next year to Tyumen. In the future, a modern and safe route will run through the whole country to Vladivostok," the head of state said.
In just six years, it is planned to build more than 50 bypasses of cities, a new significant project is the Dzhubga – Sochi highway. The road should reduce the travel time from the M-4 Don highway to Sochi by four times – up to one and a half hours, and will also allow the Black Sea coast to actively develop. At the same time, the President stressed that the project is expensive. In this regard, the Government has been instructed to provide a scheme for its financing.
"We have already put federal highways and almost 85% of roads in large agglomerations in order. It is necessary to strictly maintain this level. At the same time, in the coming years we will place special emphasis on the development of regional roads," Putin explained.
Air travel should also become more affordable. To do this, it is necessary to increase the so-called aviation mobility. "By 2030, the intensity of air traffic in Russia should increase by one and a half times the level of last year," the president said. There is also the task of modernizing the infrastructure of at least 75 airports, which is more than a third of Russia's aviation network. At least 250 billion rubles will be allocated for this purpose. The fleet of aircraft will also be updated.
The head of state also spoke about the railway network, specifically about high–speed railways. "The first route between Moscow and St. Petersburg will pass through Tver and our ancient capital, Veliky Novgorod," he said. Then a highway will be laid to Kazan, the Urals, Rostov-on-Don, the Black Sea coast, as well as Minsk.
"The Time of Heroes"
Vladimir Putin paid considerable attention to the fighters who are now in the special operation zone, as well as veterans of the SVO. According to him, these people can be called the true elite of Russia. "These are all those who serve Russia, workers and warriors, reliable, proven, who have proved their loyalty to Russia by deed," he said.
Starting from March 1, 2024, they will be able to apply to participate in the first training stream of the federal personnel program "Time of Heroes". According to Putin, the idea of creating such a project came to him when communicating with the students participating in the SVO.
It is expected that the program will be built according to the same standards as the Leaders of Russia competition. The participants of the program can be participants and veterans of the SVO with higher education and management experience, regardless of rank and position. The mentors will be heads of the government, the presidential administration, federal ministries, heads of regions and large companies. According to Putin, studies will begin in the coming months.
The course of sovereign development
"Sovereignty needs to be confirmed every day. We are talking about our and only our responsibility for the present and future of Russia," the head of state said. "This is our Homeland. She is needed and dear only to us. And to our descendants, to whom we are obliged to pass on a strong and prosperous country," the Russian leader stressed.
All new national projects announced in the message must be approved by the end of the year and coordinated among themselves, Putin set the task. He also suggested forming not only a three-year budget, but also a six-year financial plan.
In conclusion, Putin addressed the fighters of his army with the words: "I bow low to you." The head of state concluded the message with words about faith in Russia's victory.
Oleg Isaichenko
