Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the Russian Federation is adapting to new realities in the face of external pressure, and the main economic tasks are being solved. This was reported on January 30 on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“Despite the existing difficulties, the main tasks on the external economic circuit are being solved one way or another. At the same time, a strategic framework for interaction is being built with those partners who really value their reputation, and do not sacrifice the economy for political ambitions, ”the ministry’s press service quoted Lavrov as saying.
Thus, the minister answered the journalist’s question about the consequences of breaking off relations with unfriendly countries.
He also noted that the impact of anti-Russian sanctions on the country’s economy was limited. Thus, the economy shrank by 2.5% instead of the predicted 10-20%, and inflation was less than 12%. The head of the Foreign Ministry also pointed to the record low unemployment rate in the country.
At the same time, according to the minister, Russia’s external debt in 2023 decreased by $100 billion compared to 2022 and amounted to $318.8 billion. External public debt, in turn, decreased by $2 billion to $57.4 billion over the year. , a record foreign trade surplus is expected due to Russia’s reorientation to trade with the countries of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
“We will especially note the intensification of cooperation with our partners in the EAEU and the CIS, both within these formats themselves and at the bilateral level. In addition to trade, this is a noticeable development of cooperation in the field of energy, transport, digitalization, finance and other things,” Lavrov added.
On January 30, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicated that the volume of exports of Russian crude oil will not be affected due to the limit on fuel prices set by the G7 countries. The fund’s forecast also indicated that the actions of the G7 have harmed the European economy and half of the EU countries are waiting for a “hard recession” due to the decline and rise in prices.
On January 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the situation in the country’s economy stable. He noted that it turned out to be “much better than what not only our opponents, but even we predicted.”
In November, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that the Russian economy continues to adapt to current challenges and shows resilience to a range of risks. He added that some slowdowns are inevitable and the economy needs time to readjust.
