Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a new government, giving most of the ministerial portfolios to new faces but retaining some of the most important ones.

President Putin approved the new government on Tuesday, when newly-appointed Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also held his first cabinet meeting.

The new government members included ministers of the economy, justice, education, health, culture, and sports, while veteran Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov retained their positions.

The Russian parliament had approved Prime Minister Mishustin, President Putin�s pick, on Thursday.

Former prime minister Dmitry Medvedev had submitted his and his full cabinet�s resignation last Wednesday, in what he said had been meant to facilitate President Putin�s recently unveiled constitutional reforms.

Putin has proposed amending Russia�s constitution to limit a future president to two terms in office - he has served four - tightening residency requirements for presidential candidates, and letting parliaments choose candidates for prime minister and the cabinet.

During his previous run as president, Putin served until 2008, when he left the presidency for four years to become prime minister and when Medvedev became president.