“The idea itself is correct, and we support it, but there are a number of issues that require discussion,” the Kremlin leader said.
Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev reported that 3.5 million passports had been issued in areas under the Russian army's control.
“It was at God’s will that this fate fell upon our shoulders to carry out such a challenging but honorable mission of defending Russia,” he said.
Putin welcomed Western firms wanting to return to Russia, but called for regulators to create a framework that would advantage Russian companies.