MOSCOW — Raising the population's living standards is a key priority for the Russian government, President Vladimir Putin said Monday. Addressing Cabinet ministers, members of the State Council and parliament, Putin said, "The main objective of our activity, a key issue of government policy is to improve appreciably the living standards of Russian citizens."

"I am convinced that present-day Russia has enough capabilities to achieve more tangible results in raising the Russian people's standards of living, and to do so without upsetting the balance of basic macroeconomic indicators, and making sure there is no surge in inflation. Therefore, we must not miss the opportunities now emerging in the Russian economy," Putin said.