RUBLE STILL FALLING...
Down to 62.17
Putin calls NATO expansion the new Berlin wall
Putin: Isn't NATO expansion a wall? Isn't expanding NATO creating a new wall. Our partners did not stop. They decided they were winners, that they were an empire and all other countries were vassals.
Putin appears to refer to use of police to intimidate businesses:
We have to stop using law enforcement agencies to punish everyone who we don't like.
WHATABOUTISM ALERT!
Putin asked about bureaucracy. He says there is bureaucracy in the EU too -- and its worse than in Russia.
Putin: In our country, bureacracy is nothing compared to bureacracy in the European Union.
He added that he was glad to see Putin smiling.
DIVERSIFICATION AGAIN...
Putin is talking about diversification of the economy again. We've been hearing this forever but they never do it. Why? Because a true diversification of the economy would, by definition, lead to more economic pluralism -- and sooner or later, to political pluralism. And this is unacceptable to the current elite. This is the paradox. The economy needs diversification. The political system can't tolerate it. Economics is hostage to politics.
Putin says Kremlin will not dig too deeply into reserves to stabilize ruble. Say oil prices can get lower and the economy will adapt.