The agenda: support for the University Sessions programme for school students from the new regions, implementing the Action Strategy in the Interests of Senior Citizens until 2030, and the Energy Strategy until 2050.
Mikhail Mishustin’s opening remarks
Alexander Novak’s report on the Energy Strategy until 2050
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Good morning, colleagues.
Let me begin with a decision recently taken regarding the education and leisure of children and teenagers living in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
Tatyana Golikova at a meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Alexander Novak at a meeting with Deputy Prime Ministers on current issues
Meeting with deputy prime ministers on current issues
The Government continues to support the University Sessions project. Now in its fourth year, it offers young people aged 14 to 17 the chance to spend their summer holidays in an engaging and meaningful way. Participants are accommodated at university campuses or summer camps, where they not only take part in sports, visit museums and theatres, but also – crucially – learn more about in-demand professions and university degree programmes, gaining skills that will serve them in the future.
Naturally, this is of great interest to both parents and students, especially as university applications draw near.
The President has praised this initiative as a success, noting that schoolchildren from the new Russian regions have had the chance to experience the traditions and culture of different parts of our vast country. They have also made new friends and connected with peers from across Russia.
We will continue to create opportunities for young people to develop their talents. This summer, we will allocate over 150 million roubles to support the programme, allowing more than 2,000 children from the new regions to take part and enjoy a rewarding experience.
I want to stress that funding must be allocated without delay, so the University Sessions programme can go ahead without disruption. Many families are already planning their children’s summer holidays. I urge the relevant ministries and agencies to take this responsibility seriously.
Now, moving on to the next topic.
The President has consistently emphasised that senior citizens should have the opportunity to enjoy an active and healthy life.
The Government has approved an Action Strategy in the Interests of Senior Citizens until 2030, which should become a guideline for our work. The strategy outlines a comprehensive approach to improving the quality of life for people.
One key priority is enhancing pension provision. Starting next year, we will introduce a two-stage indexation of insurance pensions: the first increase in February will reflect the previous year’s inflation rate, and the second in April will be based on the income growth of the Social Fund.
Another important task is to improve the healthcare system for senior citizens, including in rural areas. Medical care must be accessible at home, and doctors should remain in regular contact with their patients. We also need to expand the use of advanced methods for early diagnosis and disease prevention. Regular medical check-ups and a careful, responsible attitude to health should become the norm.
We are also continuing to roll out the national system of long-term care. Currently, about 170,000 people benefit from this support. Within six years, that number is expected to rise to half a million, as instructed by the President.
It is also important to foster conditions for older citizens to pursue self-fulfilment – whether through leisure activities, sport, creativity, or acquiring new skills. Those who wish to can get involved in volunteering or mentoring. Overall, we must support people in sharing their knowledge and experience and ensure they feel valued and needed.
Ms Golikova, could you please share more details on this strategy and how it will be implemented?
Tatyana Golikova at a meeting on current issues with deputy prime ministers
Tatyana Golikova: Mr Mishustin, colleagues,
The Action Strategy in the Interests of Senior Citizens until 2030, as you said, has been drafted on instructions from the President and, of course, its key task is to increase life expectancy to 78 years by 2030 and to ensure faster growth in healthy life expectancy.
Let me remind you that, as of January 1, 2025, there were 35.1 million people above the working age in the Russian Federation, accounting for 24 percent of the population
What I mean is that the matters you have just addressed and what is envisaged by the strategy are certainly of key importance for supporting these citizens.
I will highlight several key points of the strategy.
First, we must instil in society an appreciation of the values inherent in a multi-generational family. This includes fostering a respectful attitude towards older generations, encouraging professional family dynasties, expanding mentoring practices, supporting social projects undertaken by non-profit organisations as well as volunteer initiatives, strengthening the institution of the family, and, of course, promoting traditional spiritual and moral values.
Second, protecting the health of older people is vital. Key measures in this regard include increasing the accessibility of medical services, including in rural areas, and expanding coverage with health surveys, occupational health examinations, and regular medical check-ups. This involves house calls by medical organisations and transportation to healthcare facilities and back home to address the accessibility issues.
In addition, since we have begun implementing the new Long and Active Life national project, we plan to introduce instruction courses on healthy ageing and active longevity, as well as improve measures to prevent falls, fractures and cognitive decline, which are common issues in old age.
We will also promote research into ageing-related problems, alongside the development and introduction of advanced diagnostic and treatment methods for the benefit of older people. This is the focus of the New Health Protection Technologies, another national project aimed at achieving technological leadership.
Our next topic is extending active longevity.
In this regard, we plan to expand programmes training in computer, financial, legal, linguistic and environmental awareness, all of which are currently in high demand in society, including among older people.
Another area of focus is developing social services that prolong healthy life, hospital-replacing technologies, as you have said, and long-term care and social support programmes.
In this context, it is also necessary to ensure access to rehabilitation care for older people and to create remote services based on new technologies.
The strategy also includes a separate focal area intended to enhance financial solvency and create employment opportunities for older generations.
You have mentioned the pension support decisions. I would like to add the long-term savings programme that we are implementing jointly with the Ministry of Finance.
Each year, we raise pensioner’s subsistence minimum and offer opportunities for vocational training and extra occupational training for people over 50.
Finally, the strategy contains a section dedicated to developing an infrastructure for high-quality and safe living. It includes the Infrastructure for Life national project, which also helps to expand spaces for the convenience of older people.
The main tools are the Family, Long and Active Life, and New Health-Saving Technologies national projects I have mentioned, as well as the Infrastructure for Life project, and others.
We will implement the strategy in two stages. After it is signed, we will begin drafting a plan. We are working with the expert community, State Duma deputies, and senators. I believe it will be implemented promptly as part of the plans you have outlined.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you, Ms Golikova. Raising the level and quality of life for the older generation is undoubtedly a government priority. People should receive comprehensive assistance in all real-life situations. I ask you to oversee this closely.
Now, onto another issue.
The Government has prepared the Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2050.
This key document for the development of the state has been updated on the President's instructions. It extends the planning horizon and takes into account the existing challenges, which should enable the oil, gas, coal, electric power, power engineering and related transport sectors to effectively respond to changes occurring in the world, and above all in the domestic economy, to do everything necessary for its further development.
This means, in particular, channelling supplies to friendly markets and increasing industrial output. It is especially important that such increases are based on the priority use of Russian-made equipment, software, technologies and engineering solutions.
We discussed this in detail during our strategic sessions together with sectoral associations, expert communities and research institutions.
Mr
Novak, please tell us in greater detail about the core provisions and objectives
stated in the Energy Strategy.
Alexander Novak: Mr Mishustin, as you have already noted, the Energy Strategy charts long-term guidelines until 2050, including the development of the fuel and energy sector in the context of global challenges, the energy transition, digital transformation, broader technological changes and growing energy consumption.
The growth of industrial production, expansion of electric transport in urban agglomerations and the development of digital infrastructure will ensure sustained demand for energy resources and petrochemical and gas-chemical products. The Energy Strategy also takes into account the projected 20 percent increase in global demand for all energy sources by 2050.
As you mentioned, the strategy is built around two key priorities.
First, ensuring a stable supply of energy resources for the domestic market. The task of the fuel and energy sector is to provide reliable energy supplies, diversify energy sources, supply gas across the regions and develop infrastructure, particularly in the Far Eastern and Arctic regions.
Second, realising Russia’s export potential. The fuel and energy sector remains one of the country’s leading export industries, and Russia will continue to hold a leading position globally. In addition to exporting oil, gas and coal, we will continue expanding our liquefied natural gas exports and the export of nuclear technologies.
The strategy also calls for the diversification of supply routes, the development of new logistics corridors, including the Northern Sea Route, and the strengthening of partnerships with Asia and the Global South more broadly.
It also outlines plans to bolster Russia’s technological leadership and enhance its position in nuclear energy, hydrogen technologies and energy storage systems, including through the New Atomic and Energy Technologies national project.
We will also continue to develop digital technologies, including big data analytics, digital twins and artificial intelligence. These innovations will enhance the efficiency and flexibility of our energy infrastructure and open up new markets for the Russian fuel and energy sector.
Particular attention is being paid to reducing environmental impact. The strategy envisions increasing the share of nuclear energy to 25percent of total generation capacity, expanding renewable energy production, and implementing modern environmental standards across the energy sector.
Energy saving will also be promoted across all sectors of the economy.
The Energy Strategy was developed collaboratively with our colleagues across federal agencies, fuel and energy companies and the expert and academic community. Regional governments also took part in its preparation. It underwent wide public discussion and is primarily aimed at achieving the national development goals set by the President: improving quality of life, ensuring environmental sustainability, strengthening technological leadership and supporting a stable, dynamic economy.
The implementation and management of the Energy Strategy will be based on a project-oriented approach. It has been synchronised with other strategic documents, such as the Spatial Development Strategy and the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development.
Mr Mishustin, I would like to thank you for your support and personal involvement in its discussion at the strategic sessions. We will implement the strategy in stages, with clear milestones for 2035 and 2050. Naturally, it will be adjusted as necessary in response to changing external circumstances.
Mikhail Mishustin: Thank you. There is no doubt that the Energy Strategy connects and coordinates the many processes underway across the economy. It aligns the commissioning of new capacities in extraction, processing and generation with the needs of people and businesses. Please ensure close oversight of this work.
