During a discussion with young entrepreneurs at VDNKh, the Russian president outlined a vision where life in Russia would improve over the next decade, driven by advances in technology.
Arkady Didkovsky, present at the event, asked what a technologically advanced Russia would look like ten years hence. The president said the nation should focus on strengthening the demographic situation, safeguarding public health, improving environmental conditions, and advancing capabilities in big data and quantum technologies.
We must work to acquire new competencies, the leader noted, promising that Russia could become a global leader in these fields.
Success would follow if this path is pursued, the president asserted.
Didkovsky asked whether life would indeed be healthier and better ten years from now.
Yes, was the reply, and this improvement should raise overall quality of life.
Challenge number one
The discussion highlighted demographics as a top national priority.
There should be more people, and they should be healthy, the president emphasized.
He described a broad set of issues spanning medical development, the foundation of medical equipment and medicines, and the role of modern technologies including quantum computing and big data as essential to addressing these challenges.
Russia has faced criticism in the past as a country dependent on energy exports, yet the president argued that the nation has reasons to be proud. He pointed to a strong tradition of education, noting excellent science schools, including mathematical programs, and acknowledged that many problems remain to be solved, but there is room for determined action.
The future of the Russian economy
The country would not close itself off economically, the president stressed, stating that there is no appetite for an isolated path.
He recalled historical efforts to wall off the economy during earlier eras and warned against repeating such steps, declaring that an open economy is the right course forward.
The president argued that the economy cannot be isolated and that those who resist this reality are only harming themselves. He attributed inflation and rising costs in part to external missteps by other nations, not to Russia, and urged pursuing development that remains independent in key sectors.
He emphasized the importance of unity within communities to solve national problems, warning that without collective effort, progress would stall. The call was for decision making to become simpler and less bureaucratic, enabling faster action.
About companies leaving the Russian Federation
The president asserted that foreign firms leaving the market would come to regret their decision in the long run, not as a threat but as a consequence of losing opportunities in a country of vast potential.
He described those departures as a reflection of broader patterns in the international environment, reiterating Russia’s sovereignty and its forward-looking stance. The assertion was that nations either retain sovereignty or drift toward constraints, with nothing in between.
How are they trying to “hit” Russia?
Putin explained that the main pressure on Russia has revolved around restrictions on microelectronics. He stated that the government has spent years trying to rebuild a domestic microelectronics industry on a new footing, highlighting this as a central battleground in the broader tech conflict with other states.
The president recalled long-standing tensions over technology access, tracing them back to historic times, and argued that defending national interests is a continuous effort. He cited the rapid pace of historical change and the enduring resolve to adapt and strengthen national capabilities.
He noted that the founding of St. Petersburg and the broader history of the region illustrate how resilience and reinvestment can shape national modernity. If sovereign values form the core of national existence, he suggested, Russia can meet existing challenges and move forward with renewed purpose.
Notes: the remarks reflect a broader view of national development, emphasizing long-term strategic goals, economic openness, and the role of science and education in shaping Russia’s future.