Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Regional Development Minister Viktor Basargin

“Generally, we have launched preparations for the heating season in time. We have accumulated the necessary reserves of fuel, including backup fuel. Our overall power industry is virtually failsafe. However, we know that we have problems and the best evidence of this is what is happening today in the well-known Steppe garrison and in some other places. I am referring not to military but strictly to civilian facilities.”

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP)

The two leaders have discussed the performance of the Russian Trilateral Commission on the Regulation of Social and Labour Relations.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Trade and Industry Minister Viktor Khristenko

“Specifically, the measures to support the national automotive industry include allocating budget funds to the purchase of cars that are 10 years and older from members of the public. We have arranged that your Ministry will promptly develop recommendations to implement the plans.”

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wished Orthodox Christians a merry Christmas

"It is a centuries-old tradition that people of different faiths congratulate each other on religious holidays. We may live through difficult times, but we always congratulate each other. I am confident that today, tomorrow, and the day after, Russia's Orthodox Christians will receive many congratulations from people of other faiths."

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the Moscow-based Saint Daniel’s Monastery. Mr Putin and His Holiness discuss aspects of cooperation between the state and the church

Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeyev and Yury Petrov, Head of the Federal State Property Management Agency have also taken part in the conversation.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin

Mr Putin and Mr Sechin have discussed privileged oil costs for Belarus.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits central control unit at System Operator of Unified Energy System (SO UES)

On his visit to the central control unit of System Operator of Unified Energy System (SO UES) Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had a discussion with power company executives concerning winter peak loads and an accident at a high-voltage transmission line in the Maritime Territory as well as issues related to power supplies in Siberia after the accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin answers a question by a Channel One correspondent regarding the coming New Year

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has wished the Russian people a Happy New Year in a Channel One interview.