Putin Seeks to Soothe Ruble Worries at News Conference
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Vladimir Putin has few good options other than pointing the finger at the U.S. and its allies as he seeks to stem the panic sparked by the collapse of the ruble.
The Russian president, who will speak at his annual press conference today, is keen to avoid any dramatic steps such as firing Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, according to former and current Kremlin advisers. The economy and international affairs will be key topics and Putin expects to answer tough questions, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday.