16 April 2015, 09:08 GMT
MOSCOW, April 16 (Sputnik) – Russia has enough resources to overcome current economic difficulties with minimal economic losses, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
“We have enough resources, first of all, human resources, and we are ready to work,” the Russian leader said during a live Q&A session.
“The task for us all – for the president, the government, the central bank, regional chiefs – is to overcome the difficult period with minimal losses. Is this possible? I’m sure it is.”
The Russian economy has been experiencing a slowdown due to a sharp drop in oil prices on global market and the sanctions the United States and its allies imposed against Russia over Moscow's alleged role in the Ukraine crisis.
In November the European Commission's published a forecast suggesting that the gradual recovery of the Russian economy may be expected before 2016.
However, during a December 18 televised press conference, Russian president said that the country's economic situation could begin to improve in the first quarter of 2015.
In March, in the light of the strengthening of the Russian national currency, the ruble, against dollar and euro, Russia's Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said that the recession in Russia had passed its peak.
Earlier on Thursday Russian President said that the Russian economy may rebound within the next two years.
