State of Russian economy, key sectors stable despite attempts to destabilize fuel market - Putin

MOSCOW. July 22 (Interfax) - The Russian economy and key sectors are stable despite attempts to destabilize the fuel and energy sector, and complications in the fuel market are temporary, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting on economic issues.

"I will note right at the beginning of our meeting that the state of the domestic economy, the key sectors, is stable despite external attempts to destabilize the fuel and energy sector and several other sectors," Putin said.

"Meantime, I would like to emphasize once again that the complications that we are experiencing in the fuel market are certainly temporary and will not affect the overall economic dynamics," Putin said.

Putin said that according to the Economic Development Ministry, "Russia's GDP grew at a modest rate in May, though it was still growing within the positive area of 0.3%, and growth was 0.2% overall in the first five months of the year."

"Domestic demand from the government, businesses, and citizens is of course one of the key factors," Putin said.