Chairman of the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) Alexei Kudrin, at a meeting of the Presidium of the Economic Council, persuaded Vladimir Putin to reduce geopolitical tensions to reduce the technological gap

Chairman of the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) Alexey Kudrin (Photo: Sergey Bobylev/TASS)

According to the Vedomosti newspaper , during a meeting of the Presidium of the Economic Council, Alexei Kudrin explained to the president that Russia is technologically behind and must integrate into international technological chains. To do this, according to the head of the Center for Social Development, it is necessary to reduce geopolitical tensions. Putin, in turn, in his final speech at the meeting recalled the thousand-year history and stated that the country would not trade sovereignty, even if it was lagging behind in some ways. At the same time, the newspaper’s sources stated that in the same speech he promised to defend the sovereignty of Russia until the end of his life.

Another source of the publication said that to this speech the president added a conciliatory phrase that there is no need to increase tension and succumb to provocations. At the same time, he expressed confidence that foreign businesses that benefit from operating in Russia will not leave the country.

Officially, the Kremlin does not comment on the details of Putin’s final speech, pointing out that it was a non-public part of the meeting. Kudrin's representative also did not comment on the discussion.

The newspaper’s interlocutor suggested that Putin might not like Kudrin’s “defeatist position.” On the other hand, the president is satisfied with the concept of the former Minister of Finance because it implies the preservation of reserves that ensure security.

In turn, business ombudsman Boris Titov, who was present at the meeting, expressed confidence that after this meeting the chances of success for supporters of active incentives have greatly increased. He explained this by the fact that Putin had not previously commented on the speeches of participants in such events, but spoke about the need to maintain stability. This time he almost didn't talk about it.

Kudrin suggested that Putin reduce tensions in geopolitics