"The forthcoming years are decisive and will become a turning point not only for Russia, but also for the world, as competition for natural and human resources has been increasing," Putin said in a state-of-the-nation address to the legislature Wednesday.
In such a scenario, Putin said, the will of the nation, its internal energy, would help Russia to take a lead in the world.
Meanwhile, the president said only a breakthrough in the new technological level would make it possible to ensure growing consumption nowadays.
This is Putin's first address of its kind since his return to the Kremlin following a four-year interval, during which he served as prime minister.
