MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin on Thursday tried to quell fears of economic collapse and vowed rapid recovery from the worst financial crisis of his rule but stressed that his position on Ukraine has not shifted.
Speaking at an annual news conference, the Russian leader said that the economic downturn will last two years at most and promised to support the poorest section of the population.
However he indicated that the economic gloom has not swayed his stance on Ukraine, accusing the West of behaving like an “empire” and even comparing Russia to a bear who is under attack and fighting for survival.
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Source: theSun
