Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of Russian Government Presidium

"Finance Ministry intends to allocate additional funds to minimise the negative impact of what is happening on the world markets. <...> Starting in April, part of the temporarily available funds will be placed in bank deposits, which is a measure to support the national banking system today."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of Vnesheconombank’s supervisory council

"I should also mention Vnesheconombank's first experience in participating in the construction of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics venues, namely the Roza Hutor mountain ski resort. This is not just an Olympic venue but a venue intended to further provide recreational activities for winter sports and outdoor recreation fans and all people. The resort is expected to accommodate thousands of tourists."

Interview granted by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to the French newspaper Le Figaro

"Russia is developing at a rapid pace. In 2003 I said that doubling our gross domestic product was our medium-term goal. And we are moving towards that goal: the goal will be achieved in late 2009 or, according to some other estimates, in the first quarter of 2010."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov

Mr Putin and Mr Ivanov discussed the current situation inside the national defence industry and short-term prospects, including the current state defence order and that stipulated by the three-year defence-order budget and ways of disbursing the 67 billion rouble sum allocated for the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) programme.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko

At the meeting, Mr Putin and Mr Shmatko discussed the issues of replenishing Russia’s electric power plants with fuel for the upcoming autumn and winter season.