Tsybulsky: No decision made on funding for Arctic development program
© RIA Novosti. Vladimir Astapkovich

Tsybulsky: No decision made on funding for Arctic development program

No decision was made to cut funding for the state program on Arctic development, Russian Deputy Minister for Economic Development Alexander Tsybulsky told journalists, RIA Novosti reports. Tsybulsky was commenting on possible program-funding cuts.

Earlier, the media said the Russian Ministry of Economic Development had proposed cutting funding for the draft 2017-2025 state program on Arctic development from 209.7 billion rubles to 50.9 billion rubles.

"No decisions were made on this issue. Besides, it is impossible to cut something that does not exist. No decisions on the state program's funding have been made so far," Tsybulsky said.

He also added that the state program called for building the nuclear-powered icebreaker Lider (Leader), and that economically sound construction deadlines should still be set.