Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed on Thursday that the country's economy remains "stable despite external threats."
"This year, [the economic growth] will be at 3.9% or even 4%," Putin mentioned during the annual end-of-the-year conference, adding that Moscow is "ahead of Germany ... [and] Japan." The Russian head of state underlined that economic figures are of utmost importance for a country as everything is based on the economy, from the living standard to the stability and the defense capabilities.
Talking about inflation, he said that some issues remain, as the digit is at around 9.3%. He also stated that while the economy in the country might be somewhat "overheated," the government and the Central Bank of Russia are working to "slow it down."