MOSCOW — Sternly warning the West it cannot defang the metaphorical Russian bear, a confident-looking President Vladimir Putin promised Thursday to shore up the plummeting ruble and revive the economy within two years.
While he issued a litany of sharp rebukes against the West, Putin struck a conciliatory note on Ukraine, sayin the rebellious east should remain part of the country, backing a quick exchange of war prisoners and praising his Ukrainian counterpart.
The mixture of blistering anti-Western rhetoric and constructive signals appeared to indicate that Putin is eager to negotiate a face-saving solution to the Ukrainian crisis but has no intention of conceding defeat in his standoff with the West.
In his first public appearance since the crash of the ruble this week, Putin accepted responsibility for the economic crisis.
He said Western sanctions accounted for at least 25 percent of the ruble’s fall but the main reason was Russia’s failure to ease its overwhelming dependence on oil and gas exports.
Putin shrugged off speculation that some members of his inner circle hurt by Western sanctions could rebel against him in a “palace coup,” citing strong public support. To illustrate his point, he raised the metaphorical Russian bear.
“Sometimes I think maybe it would be better for our bear to sit quietly, rather than chasing around the forest after piglets. To sit eating berries and honey instead. Maybe they will leave it in peace,” Putin said.
“They will not. Because they will always try to put him on a chain. And as soon as they succeed in doing so, they tear out his fangs and his claws.”
Putin said he was referring to Russia’s nuclear arsenal, which protected its valuable natural resources.
“Once they’ve taken out his claws and his fangs, then the bear … (will) become a stuffed animal,” he said. “The issue is not Crimea. The issue is that we are protecting our sovereignty and our right to exist.”
