Splashy, Putin Angry at Senior Ministers at Meetings because of their Playful Work

MOSCOW – President of Russia Vladimir Putin publicly berated a senior minister who was also an ally during a meeting broadcast on state television because the minister’s work was “playful”.

The Kremlin leader expressed his frustration when Western sanctions resulting from Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine caused a “headache” for the Russian economy.

Speaking during a live video call with officials on Wednesday, Putin appeared to be agitated and scolded Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who is also the Minister of Trade and Industry. Manturov is responsible for overseeing Russia’s arms and defense industries and the supply of equipment to troops.

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Putin scolded him for working too slowly on the state aircraft contract, according to a transcript of the call later published by the Kremlin.

Manturov, who has accompanied the president on several trips and is credited with his favor, is trying to justify the postponement of the contract.

He explained that his ministry was going to build helicopter engines in St Petersburg that were previously produced in Ukraine when Putin rolled his eyes and replied: “Too long, too long…I ask you to speed up this work.”

At the start of the video call, Manturov, who was targeted by British sanctions last month, is heard pledging to Putin that he will give 175 billion rubles to state airline Aeroflot to lease civil and military aircraft for 2023 to 2025.

But Putin interrupted to claim no contracts were ready. “I know that there is no contract in the company, the director told me,” he said.

“Are you, really, playing the fool? When will the contract be signed?” continued Putin, as quoted The GuardianFriday (13/1/2023).