Moscow: President Vladimir Putin set a slew of ambitious economic goals, vowing to boost living standards, improve health care and education and build modern infrastructure in a state-of-the-nation address on Thursday.
The televised speech was timed to closely precede the March 18 election, in which Putin is set to easily win a fourth term. The Russian leader’s approval ratings top 80 percent despite an economic slowdown caused by continuing tensions with the West and a drop in global oil prices. AP