Putin calls fuel market problems 'temporary'

Russian President Vladimir Putin made assessments regarding the current situation in the fuel market during a meeting with government officials in Moscow where economic topics were discussed.

Arguing that there are "external attempts" to destabilize the situation in the energy sector and some other areas, Putin said that despite this, the Russian economy and key sectors maintain a stable course.

Stating that the difficulties in the market do not point to a permanent situation, Putin said, "These problems are temporary in nature and cannot affect the overall outlook of the economy."

Touching upon the federal budget during the meeting, Putin stated that the budget ran a surplus in June and that the increase in revenues played an important role in this development.

It is reported that a large number of facilities in Russia have been taken offline for maintenance following attacks by Ukraine on oil refineries using unmanned aerial vehicles. During this period, some restrictions on fuel sales are being implemented in many regions, including Moscow and St. Petersburg.