Russian President Vladimir Putin is advocating for a shift away from Western technology, specifically naming Microsoft and Zoom, while highlighting the nation’s economic achievements. During a meeting wiht business leaders in Moscow, President Putin addressed the need to foster domestic alternatives and reduce dependence on foreign services.

Russian Economy Shows Strong growth

President Putin announced that the Russian economy has ascended to fourth place globally in terms of purchasing power parity. He stated, “The Russian economy is growing at a high rate of 4.1 percent in 2023 and 4.3 percent last year. This is a good indicator.”

The Russian economy is growing at a high rate of 4.1 percent in 2023 and 4.3 percent last year. This is a good indicator.

Putin emphasized that this growth is not limited to specific sectors but spans across industry, agriculture, digital technologies, services, and finance. He acknowledged the difficulties faced by Russian businesses in recent years concerning international payments, logistics, and supply chains.

Promoting domestic Production

President Putin contrasted the actions of U.S. and European companies,noting that U.S. firms continue to supply medical equipment and services to Russia, while European companies have largely ceased doing so. He stressed the importance of addressing deficits that lead to reliance on imported goods, stating, “Or else, we will not have any domestic product.”

Reducing Reliance on Western Services

Referring to concerns raised by a business representative about the continued profitability of Microsoft and Zoom in Russia, President putin urged Russian users to abandon western services with “bad habits.” He added,”They put everyone in a difficult situation,whent,and now want to go back. We will not prepare a way for them.”