In what has become almost an annual ritual since 2001, Vladimir Putin took to the airwaves to participate in a lengthy call-in show, fielding vetted questions from citizens and prominent figures for several hours on national television. The questions were far-ranging—some concerning Russia’s sending troops to Ukraine (he denied it), others asking about the sale of S-300 rockets to Iran (he defended it). Most, however, focused on the economy, which has been hit hard by a combination of plummeting oil prices and Western sanctions.
Luckily for Putin, he had a talking point ready: the Russian ruble has been on a tear …read more
Source: The American Interest
