Putin says efforts to modernize Russian economy evident this year

Russian President Vladimir Putin answers questions from the press after his annual live call-in session in Moscow, Russia, June 20, 2019. Russians will see results of the country's national projects, which are designed to modernize the national economy and raise living standards, as early as this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. "The results should be felt now -- this year, next, and so on. This should also affect levels of income and salaries," Putin said during his annual live call-in session. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)