Putin says Russia at stage of 'positive changes' to strengthen country's independence

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia is "at the stage of large-scale positive changes” to strengthen its sovereignty, independence, future and create conditions for development.

Putin said that "a real sanctions aggression has been unleashed" against Russia but the nation’s economy "adequately responded to all these challenges."

"We have to respond to all actions on the part of our ill-wishers and opponents with one thing -- the expansion of economic freedoms. But, of course, everything must be within the law. This is a delicate job, and I ask you to tune it up," he said at an expanded meeting of the Prosecutor General’s Office Board in Moscow.

Putin asked attorneys to pay attention to the defense industry, with a priority on the timely fulfillment of obligations to supply necessary weapons, equipment, ammunition and equipment for Russia's "special military operation."

"For the clear implementation of all tasks of the state defense order, effective use of budget resources -- we allocate them (money) in sufficient volume, we do it very carefully, not to the detriment of other areas of our activities but the funds that are allocated should be spent rationally and in strict accordance with the law," he said.

Putin asked lawyers to supervise the modernization of enterprises of defense industry production facilities to increase capacities.

"The work here is large-scale, big. We really need it now and it will be useful in the future, we are not doing anything superfluous here, but what we are doing should be done extremely efficiently," said Putin.

e also asked them "to react harshly" to attempts to destabilize the political situation in Russia.