Putin says Russia’s ready to improve ties with the US

The economy is set to decline by 3.8 percent this year, and average income has dropped this year for the first time since Putin was first elected in 2000.

President Vladimir Putin says that Russia’s economy is showing signs of stabilization despite plummeting oil prices.

Putin reportedly took a shot at Turkey for turning to America for help, according to NBC News.

He said the country was recovering from the worst of its economic crisis caused by the collapse of global oil prices, but admitted economic forecasts would have to be adjusted.

Economic output was still falling, but Mr Putin predicted growth in the new year of 0.7%, rising to 1.9% in 2017 and 2.4% in 2018, based on oil at $50 a barrel.

On the contrary, Putin said, Russian Federation has increased its aviation presence in Syria. “We won’t rush with recalculations and making adjustments in the budget, because that brings with it a reduction in the volume of financing for social spending, the nonfinancial sector”.

Mr Putin is now into his third term as president since 2000, battling an economic crisis.

He made the remarks during the annual press conference Dec.17.

Putin said Russian Federation will continue to “support the Syrian Army’s offensive for as long as [it] is conducting its operation”.

The Russian president said a draft resolution on the Syrian conflict prepared by the United States at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was in general acceptable to Russia.

He emphasized Russia’s opposition to Western and Arab calls for Assad to leave power as part of a political transition, saying that outsiders can not dictate who governs Syria and that Moscow’s “position has not changed” on this key issue.

But he reserved his strongest statement for Turkey, who he accused of carrying out “a hostile act” when it destroyed a Russian Su-24 bomber on the Turkish-Syrian border in late November.

Its intervention has been heavily criticised by Turkey, the USA and Gulf Arab states.

“There is a problem with the Turkish leadership”, Putin said.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has responded to questions form reporters about last month’s downing of a Russian plane by Turkey.

“We support their efforts in fighting ISIL with Russian air strikes”, he said, referring to the Islamic State group.

Vladimir Putin has described US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as an “unquestionably talented” man.

He said they live in Russian Federation and “live their own life and do it with dignity”. “We didn’t even touch you”, said Putin. “But that doesn’t mean we have deployed regular troops there”.