Vladimir Putin

"Renault-Nissan will take part in the stabilisation of the (Avtovaz) factory," said Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman.

Read more: EDF to join Russian South Stream pipeline project | In this article: Renault, Russia, EU, Paris, AvtoVAZ, Gazprom, NATO, Europe, and France

"(The Dubai problems) had an impact on the Russian economy -- the stock market has gone down slightly and the dollar has strengthened versus the rouble," said Putin. "But all in all, I think the tendency toward an exit from the crisis will prevail," he said.

Read more: UPDATE 2-Putin signs energy, car deals on visit to France | In this article: France, AvtoVAZ, Renault, Francois Fillon, Russia, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gazprom, and Dubai

"The exit from the crisis won't be easy and fluctuations are possible ... It (Dubai problems) had an impact on the Russian economy -- the stock market has gone down slightly and the dollar has strengthened versus the rouble," Putin said. "But all in all, I think the tendency toward an exit from the crisis will prevail," he added.

Read more: Putin says Dubai debt woes show crisis exit tough | In this article: Dubai

"We believe in what Putin has said on providing housing," said Tatyana Moiseyenko, a member of the veterans' organization.

Read more: Putin Promises to Build Homes for Officers | In this article: World War II, Dmitry Medvedev, Moscow, United Russia, Anatoly Serdyukov, and Nikita Khrushchev

"Putin is meeting Sarkozy today and the signing of a MoU is envisaged, paving the way for the entry of EDF into the South Stream project," Scaroni said, speaking to journalists. Scaroni said the MoU also depended on the go ahead from Eni. "We are in principle in favor of expanding the shareholding to EDF since it should strengthen the project,"

Read more: MoU for EDF entry into South Stream on Thursday | In this article: Paolo Scaroni, Eni, Gazprom, Nicolas Sarkozy, European Union, and Ukraine

"France is open to this cooperation with Russia, including in defence," he said, confirming that Paris is studying Russia's request to buy the ship. The gas accord hooks another Western power into Moscow's plan to build two huge undersea pipelines to European markets, bypassing former Soviet satellites in eastern Europe and increasing Western reliance on Russian fuel. "An accord has just been signed between EDF and Gazprom on the entry of the French company in a great international transport project, the construction of a gas pipeline under the Black Sea," Putin said.

Read more: Victory for Putin as France signs gas pipeline deal | In this article: France, Russia, NATO, Moscow, European Union, Gazprom, Francois Fillon, Paris, and Nord Stream

"We will use the weapons where we think it is necessary," Putin said, remarks that are bound to cause further concern among former Soviet republics bordering the Baltic and Black Seas.

Read more: France-Russian deals called breakthrough in economic relations | In this article: France, Francois Fillon, Russia, Renault, GDF Suez, Mistral, Nord Stream, and Gazprom

"(The Dubai problems) had an impact on the Russian economy -- the stock market has gone down slightly and the dollar has strengthened versus the rouble," said Putin. "But all in all, I think the tendency toward an exit from the crisis will prevail,"

Read more: UPDATE 2-Putin signs energy, car deals on visit to France | In this article: France, AvtoVAZ, Renault, Francois Fillon, Russia, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gazprom, and Dubai

"The exit from the crisis won't be easy and fluctuations are possible ... It (Dubai problems) had an impact on the Russian economy -- the stock market has gone down slightly and the dollar has strengthened versus the rouble," Putin said. "But all in all, I think the tendency toward an exit from the crisis will prevail,"

Read more: Putin says Dubai debt woes show crisis exit tough | In this article: Dubai

"A full stop has been placed on the agreement between EDF and Gazprom about the French company taking part in ...what we call South Stream," Putin said. "Agreement has been reached on working together on the territory of France and other countries. In essence, it is an exchange of assets,"

Read more: UPDATE 1-Putin signs energy, car deals on visit to France | In this article: France, AvtoVAZ, Gazprom, Renault, Francois Fillon, Russia, Moscow, and Italy