Putin urged to work on the integration of new regions carefully and systematically

Work on the integration of new Russian regions – the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions – must be carried out carefully and systematically. This statement was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his speech at a meeting of the Council of Legislators in St. Petersburg.

“It is important to carefully and systematically conduct this work. [по интеграции]so that people feel belonging to a single economic, educational, cultural space of our country,” he said (quote according to TASS).

Putin stressed that the system of labor and social guarantees, including medical care, should work “in full” for the inhabitants of the new regions. It is also necessary to create jobs in these subjects and create conditions “for dynamic economic growth, the speedy restoration of infrastructure and life support facilities,” the president added.

Putin reiterated that the territories included in the Russian Federation are “historical lands” of Russia. “We must do everything to defend and protect them,” he said.

On September 30, the President of the Russian Federation and the heads of the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions signed agreements on the annexation of the regions to Russia. Putin stressed that the inhabitants of the annexed territories “become citizens of the Russian Federation forever.” The decision of the Constitutional Court stated that the integration period would last until January 1, 2026.

In January, the head of state instructed the government to speed up work to improve living standards in the new regions. In early February, Putin again urged bring the regions to the all-Russian indicators in the horizon of the current decade. During his address to the Federal Assembly, the President promised build up a large-scale program of socio-economic recovery and development of new regions of the Russian Federation.

In March, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin notedthat the integration of the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions is a priority in the work of the State Duma. According to him, at that time 26 laws had already been adopted, and 13 more bills were under consideration.