Russia able to withstand EU's toughest sanctions scenario

Russia able to withstand EU's toughest sanctions scenario

Russia’s Economic Development Ministry has drafted three variants of forecasts of the country’s economic development in case sectorial sanctions are imposed against Moscow over the situation in Ukraine, Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Saturday.

"We have developed three variants which differ by the degree of toughness. The first variant includes luxury articles, caviar, furs, the second one is tougher and the third one includes the entire complex - metals, fertilizers, oil, gas and so on, taking into account the factors of price and volume," Ulyukayev said.

Putin forecasts Russia's GDP to grow higher than expected early in 2014

Putin forecasts Russia's GDP to grow higher than expected early in 2014

Russian President Vladimir Putin expects that Russia’s GDP growth would be higher than it was expected in 2014. "Last year, Russia’s GDP grew by not very much - 1.3%. This is slightly less than the year before, but still there was some growth. I think this year we will reach more significant figures than we predicted in the beginning of this year," Putin said at a meeting with Russian and Austrian business leaders in Vienna on Tuesday, reports Interfax.

"In general, rather good dynamics is being observed in the economy at the present time, he said.