<?xml version="1.0" encoding="US-ASCII"?>
<!-- Generated by Broadridge Transform (tm) - http://www.broadridge.com -->
<!-- Created: Fri Jun 26 21:12:36 UTC 2026 -->
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    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="PutnamVTUSResearchFundClassIBMember" xlink:href="ck0001093278-20260626.xsd#ck0001093278_PutnamVTUSResearchFundClassIBMember"/>
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