IMF Counts on Russia to Ensure Regional Stability - Lagarde

Russia is an important partner of the International Monetary Fund, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) considers Russia an important partner and counts on it to ensure certainty in the region, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said on Thursday.

"Russia is clearly an important partner of the IMF, one with which we are working steadily and which we very much count upon to ensure certainty and stability in the region," Lagarde said.

The IMF has projected that the Russian economy would shrink by 3.8 percent in 2015 and by 1.1 percent in 2016. The IMF has projected inflation in Russia to reach 17.9 percent in 2015 and 9.8 percent the following year.

Lagarde noted she wishes IMF’s projections for the growth of the Russian economy in 2015 and 2016 to be incorrect.

"I would not like anything better than to be proven wrong for any country that we forecast negative growth," she said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Russia's economy may be restored within the next two years because of the strengthening of the ruble and markets growth. Putin also said that Russia had enough resources to overcome current economic difficulties with minimal economic losses.