Those challenges come as the Russian economy is still reeling from a combined blow of low oil prices and Western sanctions. The survey also reflected growing public worries about Western sanctions. Yet while the Western restrictions have stymied Russia’s growth, they also gave Putin a convenient explanation for his domestic problems. Amid rising tensions with the West, the Kremlin has focused on beefing up Russia’s military arsenals. Stanovaya noted that Putin’s talk reflected growing instability in the absence of a common agenda between Russia and the West.

Source: National Post December 30, 2018 09:15 UTC