Europe Putin: Russia just has to tough out economic storm (+video)

In his annual press conference, the Russian president set a clear tone over the country's ruble and oil woes: The Russian 'bear' needs to evade the (Western) hunters, and trust only in itself.

By , Correspondent

Maxim Zmeyev/Reuters

Russia is like a bear prowling on its own territory, Vladimir Putin told about 1,200 journalists assembled in the Kremlin for his annual marathon press conference Thursday. The bear would prefer to just sit around eating berries and honey, bothering no one and hoping to be left alone.