The situation in the Russian economy is stabilizing, while the ruble’s exchange rate is returning to the levels of early February, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting on economic issues on Monday.

“Russia has withstood this unprecedented pressure. The situation is stabilizing, the ruble’s exchange rate has returned to the levels of the first half of February and is being defined by the objectively strong payment balance,” he said.

The surplus of the current account of balance of payments in Russia exceeded $58 bln in Q1, “hitting a fresh all-time high,” the president said, adding that foreign exchange cash is returning to the country’s banking system and the volumes of deposits of citizens are rising.

Inflation in Russia is stabilizing now, Putin pointed out. “I will separately note the inflation issue. It is stabilizing now,” he said, adding that “consumer prices grew notably over the last 1.5 months – by 9.4%, while in annual terms as of April 8 inflation amounted to 17.5%.”

According to the president, Russia’s long-term financial stability both at the federal and regional level should remain the key task for the country’s authorities. A record level of surplus of the budget system was registered for the first quarter of this year, he noted.

“Additional decisions are required here, and it is necessary to implement them right at the moment when the economy needs it most of all,” Putin said, adding that “the long-term stability of financial system both at the federal and regional level remains a key condition”.

Source: Agencies