'President Vladimir Putin has gone so far as to blame Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin for Russia’s current difficulties..'<blockquote>'The public has responded stoically and largely without panic, even as they see their middle-class aspirations crash. But a whiff of desperation can now be sensed, and it is the Kremlin that appears the most perplexed about what the next steps it should take.
President Vladimir Putin has gone so far as to blame Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin for Russia’s current difficulties. Historical scapegoats, however, do not relieve Putin and his government of responsibility for Russia’s financial mess. As the economic temperature rises, Moscow will likely find itself under increased pressure to re-examine both its domestic policies and its foreign adventures.
..
The Russian government really has no good economic options other than hope. This prompted German Gref, Putin’s former minister for economic development who is now head of Sberbank, to announce that Russia will continue to fall behind its global economic competitors if the country does not introduce major structural reforms. Gref’s warning, and accompanying sound of alarm, was startling: “[W]e have found ourselves in the ranks of countries that are losing, downshifter countries.” '
- William E. Pomeranz,
A whiff of panic in the Kremlin as Russia’s economy sinks further, February 4, 2016</blockquote>
'..close contacts between U.S. and Russian defense officials "..to combat ISIS..." '<blockquote>'Both parties gave a positive assessment of the call for a cessation in hostilities and agreed to step up cooperation through diplomatic channels and other agencies in order to see it implemented.
Putin also reiterated the need to establish a "common counter-terrorist front," with close contacts between U.S. and Russian defense officials "which would make it possible to combat ISIS..." '
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'..combat ISIS..', February 14, 2016 (Liberate Al-Raqqah)</blockquote>
Context<blockquote>
'..Lenin destroyed freedom of the press..'(Syria) - '..a nationwide cessation of hostilities..''..Putin and the siloviki, like the Bourbons, have learned nothing and forgotten nothing..'</blockquote>