NEWSLINK: “Vladimir Putin defends Russian economy as reform debate grows. Bullish predictions abound amid debate among advisers” – Financial Times

“Russian president Vladimir Putin delivered a robust defence of Russia’s struggling economy … as a fierce debate rages among his advisers over the pace and direction of reforms ahead of next year’s elections. … Putin, who is expected to run for a fourth term, said that after two years of recession Russia was entering a “new phase of growth” and forecast that inflation would dip below the government’s target of 4 per cent before the end of 2017.”