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Russia's veteran finance minister Alexei Kudrin resigned on Sept. 26 following a public dressing down by President Dmitry Medvedev on national television. His dismissal, which was approved by Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, came after Kudrin publicised disagreements with Medvedev over economic policy, especially defence spending. Vladimir Putin declared on Sept. 24 he was ready to return to the Russian presidency after current head of state Dmitry Medvedev announced he would back Putin's candidacy at a congress of the ruling United Russia party. Putin invited Medvedev to take his place as prime minister.