For the net benefit: in 2026, the Russian Federation will take a course to "whitewash" the economy

Low-income families with two or more children will receive additional payments starting in 2026. Vladimir Putin stated this on December 8 at a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects. The birth rate in Russia continues to decline, so comprehensive solutions are needed to reverse negative trends. At the same time, the president instructed the cabinet to pay attention not only to motherhood, but also to fatherhood. In addition to demography, other issues were also discussed: the main task for next year will be to "whitewash the national economy." It is important that business does not fade into the shadows against the background of VAT growth, the head of state noted. At the same time, illegal employment will have to be reduced and control over the circulation of cash will have to be strengthened. How new national projects showed themselves last year and where the most people in Russia want to have children — in the Izvestia article.

How new national projects work in Russia

At the beginning of the working week, almost the entire political and public elite of Russia gathered in person in the Kremlin — the Cabinet of Ministers (almost in full), the governor's corps, as well as the heads of leading public organizations. Vladimir Putin has gathered the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects in the Alexander Hall. Its meetings are held twice a year to "check the hours", since it is national projects that have become key tools for achieving the country's goals.

There are currently 19 national projects being implemented in Russia, which cover different areas of development — and all of them, according to Vladimir Putin, have started successfully. According to him, 121 indicators have been identified to achieve various goals. Seven of them currently have a high risk of non-fulfillment, but still most of the targets for the current year have been achieved, the president noted.

— Among other things, plans have been implemented to relocate citizens from emergency housing, agro-industrial production is growing, the share of creative industries is increasing, progress has been made in the development of domestic technologies in the fuel and energy sector, in the field of peaceful atom. The industry of waste management and the formation of a closed—cycle economy is developing at a good pace," the head of state specified.

In his report, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin assured that national projects have been funded: some of them have special sections that include more than 120 events with funding exceeding 300 billion rubles until 2030. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who heads the State Council Commission on State and municipal Administration, even clarified that the financing of national projects for the next year has increased.

— You have recently submitted the federal budget for the next three years. National projects are funded. I am confident that their consistent implementation will allow us to solve the tasks set, ensure, despite all external challenges, an improvement in the quality of life of citizens and the stable development of the domestic economy," the Prime Minister said.

Demographic problems in Russia — what the president suggests

Despite the fact that there were many issues on the agenda, Vladimir Putin devoted most of his speech to one of the most serious challenges for the country — demography. According to the President, in order to reverse the downward trend in the birth rate across the country, it is necessary to strengthen existing measures at all levels. What has already been done is not enough, as the birth rate in the Russian Federation continues to decline.

— A number of subjects of the federation show how it is possible to successfully cope with this task. For reference, I can inform you that on November 1, 18 regions of the Russian Federation were at or above the planned levels. And after the birth of the third and subsequent children — 11 regions. At the same time, I would like to draw your attention to the curious fact that the sociological indicator for assessing readiness to have children has improved across the country, most of all in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, in the republics of Mordovia, Altai, Kabardino—Balkaria," the president gave an example.

He recalled that support for families should be based on the principle of "the more the better" and increase for each next child. Vladimir Putin also instructed to analyze the measures in the regions, select the best ones and replicate them nationwide. Separately, he instructed to prepare comprehensive solutions to reverse the negative demographic trend. Thus, the head of state announced new measures to support couples with children, including family payments.

— Starting this year, the birth rate has been included in the assessment of the work of the heads of subjects. New measures are planned to support families with children, including family payments, which from 2026 will be able to be received by low—income families with two or more children," the president said.

Along with supporting motherhood, he instructed to think over measures to support so-called responsible fatherhood.: In fact, it's about men becoming more involved in family care and spending more time raising children.

Currently, about 10 million Russian families receive benefits for the birth and upbringing of a child every month, said Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Also, according to him, more than 1.8 million parents in Russia transfer maternity capital annually. According to Mikhail Mishustin, more than 1.5 million families used the funds of the parent capital in 2025.

Putin's economic instructions

Another important topic was economics. Its growth has passed the expected stage of deceleration: the rate of GDP growth in 2025 will be about 1%. By the end of the year, inflation will be "about or even below 6%." At the same time, Russia's gross domestic product has grown by almost 10% over the past three years, despite the sanctions, Mikhail Mishustin stressed.

— The measures taken by the government and the policy of the Bank of Russia have helped reduce inflation from its peak levels in the first quarter to below 7% as of December 1. Based on the results for the 12 months as a whole, we expect, as you said, to reach a value of about 6% year on year," the Prime minister said.

The president called the "whitewashing" of the national economy, that is, the development of a transparent competitive business environment, a systemic task for next year. The relevant government plan has already been prepared, he said.

— Here we don't need any, you know, as it sometimes happened before, such mass raids, it's definitely not necessary at all. But it is necessary to restore order in both wholesale and retail markets. Drastically reduce illegal employment, which violates the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation, and strengthen control over the circulation of cash. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that it is important to act competently here and not create restrictions for economic growth," Vladimir Putin said.

During his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak indicated that the uncontrolled export of cash rubles of unknown origin from Russia would be excluded. The restrictions will also apply to the export of gold bullion. The Deputy Prime Minister also stressed that illegal mining can become criminalized. In connection with the VAT increase, it is important that "nothing goes into the shadows": it works legally, and, as a result, revenues go to the budget, the head of state specified. Recall that Vladimir Putin signed a law according to which the value added tax in Russia will be increased from 20% to 22%. At the same time, the 10% discount rate will be retained for all socially significant goods. Against this background, the president expressed the hope that the VAT increase to 22% in 2026 would be temporary.

Reducing the tax rate will have a positive impact on consumption growth. Due to a decrease in the final price of goods and services, they will become more affordable for consumers, which stimulates demand, and it, in turn, may lead to an increase in production, Natalia Poluyanova, a member of the State Duma Committee on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, told Izvestia.

— For businesses, reducing the tax burden means more free funds that companies can use for development, investment, salary payments and expansion of production. Restimulation of individual industries: especially those with high added value and mass consumption. As a result, due to the activation of business and the expansion of production, there may be a need for new employees, which will have a positive effect on employment.

In addition, it will make legal business more profitable than the shadow sector, which may lead to a reduction in the shadow economy and an increase in tax collection in the future, which, in fact, the president drew attention to.

— We have a lot of shadow schemes in every industry. Especially in new sectors of the economy, which are now using digital platforms as a development tool. From the substitution of labor relations for civil law relations to break up business in trade to avoiding responsibility for counterfeit goods on marketplaces and massive use of gaps in legislative regulation for their own fintech," said economist Valery Korneev.

Economic dynamics must be increased while maintaining low unemployment and moderate inflation. The growth should cover all regions of the Russian Federation, Putin added. Entrepreneurs and companies that conduct their business decently and conscientiously should receive new development opportunities and direct, tangible benefits from the "whitewashing" of the market, the president stressed.