Putin: Russia can launch year-round Northeast Passage navigation

MOSCOW, Apr 14 (PRIME) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a year-round navigation by the Northeast Passage on Tuesday, he said on Wednesday.

"Our economic development of the Arctic is getting more and more active. The Northeast Passage and its navigation -- we discussed this issue actively yesterday with some colleagues as well," Putin said.

"It was only yesterday that we discussed that the Northeast Passage traffic can become year-round soon, in a few years. This is likely to happen."

The president said that Russia is building the largest icebreaker in the world, The Leader.

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