-Putin to visit Turkey
Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Turkey this week will be the most important item on the agenda of both countries.
During the visit, the Turkish-Russian High-Level Cooperation Council and the “the laying of the first concrete” or groundbreaking ceremony for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant will be organized. Both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Putin will head these events.
As the trade turnover between the two countries increases at a steady pace, particular attention will be given to cooperation in the fields of transportation, agriculture, and telecommunication among various industries.
-Gazprom and Naftogaz start negotiations to cancel contracts
Russian energy company Gazprom and Ukrainian natural gas company Naftogaz are reported to have begun negotiations for the cancellation of natural gas shipments and transportation contracts.
The International Court of Arbitration in Stockholm recently concluded the case between Gazprom and Naftogaz in favor of the Ukrainian company. Having ruled that Gazprom has not fulfilled its obligations in natural gas deliveries to Ukraine, the court ruled that Gazprom should pay Naftogaz $2.56 billion.
-'Russia needs $140 billion for strategic investments'
President of the Russian Court of Accounts Tatiyana Golikova announced that Russia needs 8 trillion rubles ($ 140 billion) for the next six years in order to reach Russia's strategic goals. Golikova said that a comprehensive additional budget is needed to reach the strategic targets that Putin laid out.
Speaking to members of the Federation Council Members on March 1, Putin gave instructions to the Council of Ministers to fight growing poverty in Russia and to allocate an increased share of the budget for education, health infrastructure.