MOSCOW. May 15 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked Sergei Shoigu for his work on developing the Russian Armed Forces and giving them a new image.
"I would like to thank Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu for what he has done over the previous years to build up the Armed Forces and give them a new image. I think that no one has any doubts that this image is being consistently created, including with regard to the current requirements [and] the requirements set for modern methods of fighting," Putin said at a meeting with commanders of military districts on Wednesday, which was also attended by former Defense Minister Shoigu, newly appointed Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
At the same time, Putin noted that much more needs to be done. "Many things were not clear before the start of hostilities, neither to us nor to all those who in one way or another deal with the development of their Armed Forces," he said.
"This is obvious, but how swiftly we react to the demands of the times gives us confidence that we will certainly accomplish all tasks of this kind," Putin said.