MOSCOW, November 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov will retain his post and be appointed a deputy prime minister, President Vladimir Putin said Monday at a session with government members.

"Last week Defense Ministry officials expressed concern over the problems the ministry was facing in the implementation of its development plans," Putin said. "These problems are linked with the lack of coordinated actions between different ministries and departments. The prime minister made a relevant proposal - to appoint Sergei Ivanov, [while] retaining [his] defense minister post, a deputy prime minister for better coordination in this sphere."