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The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov. Minister for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief Alexander Kurenkov delivered a report.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues,

Spring is approaching, there is no getting away from it. As you know, we face challenges in spring and then in summer which bring about emergencies and disasters, including floods and wildfires. Unfortunately, they are inevitable. However, to minimise damage to our people, and to reduce the impact on the economy, we need to think about this in advance and be ready to face these challenges.

I suggest that we discuss this matter today. Mr Kurenkov, Minister for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief, will present a report. Go ahead, please.

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