Vladimir Putin scolds Denis Manturov for ‘fooling around’

• Vladimir Putin lost his cool during the first meeting of his government.
• He accused trade minister Denis Manturov of ordering military and commercial aircraft .
• “What are you fooling around for? When will the contracts be signed?”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lost his cool during the first meeting of his government in 2023, and publicly reprimanded the minister of trade and industry.

He accused Denis Manturov of ordering military and commercial aircraft with bureaucratic delays for many minutes.

“Too long, it is taking too long,” said the Russian leader, who has never been one to hold back in criticizing top officials in public.

“What are you fooling around for? When will the contracts be signed?”

The inaugural meeting of the government was held on the same day that President Putin removed his top Ukrainian commander after only three months in office.

After a string of losses in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Gen. Sergei Surovikin was appointed in October, but he has been unable to change the path of the conflict.

President Putin often interrupted Mr. Manturov as the minister discussed plans for aero planes, helicopters, and boats during an otherwise positive video call that was shown on Russian television and in which President Putin lauded his ministers’ management of the economy.

“These 700 aircraft, including helicopters… you need to sort this out with the defense ministry… several enterprises still haven’t received any orders,” he complained.

Since 2012, Mr. Manturov has been a dependable member of President Putin’s cabinet, travelling frequently on both local and international trips.

Inadequacies in the Russian weapons industry had already been made clear on the battlefield when he was given the responsibility for managing it last summer.

The president interrupted, arguing that it was taking too long as he continued to describe how his ministry had started a program to manufacture helicopter engines in St. Petersburg that were formerly built in Ukraine.

The minister vowed his department will work hard with its business partners as the duration of his public humiliation drew close. But an irate president made it clear that this was insufficient.

“No, do it within a month. Don’t you understand the situation we’re in? It needs to be done in a month, no later.”

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