Vladimir Putin delivered a lump of coal in the Kremlin 's stocking this year when he announced Thursday that he has canceled holiday vacations for members of the government . Russia 's President delivered the bad news at a December 25 meeting he convened of his government , but for those thinking that his timing was merely the diabolical twist of a maniacal scrooge , Christmas is celebrated in Russia on January 7 , the traditional date in the Eastern Orthodox Church . `` The Government and its various structures can not afford such extensive holidays , at least not this year , '' Putin told government ministers in a speech broadcast on state television . `` You know what I am talking about . '' He was talking about Russia 's battered economy . `` We have been making efforts to change the structure of our economy , to refine it and make it more innovative ... quite a lot has been done in this direction , '' he said . `` However , recent events show that this is not enough . '' It was a change in tone from just a week ago , when Putin largely blamed the West for Russia 's woes , even suggesting a U.S.-Saudi conspiracy theory to bring down oil prices at his annual press conference . At Thursday 's meeting , however , the President admitted at least some fault . `` The difficulties we have come across are not only of an external type . They are not only due to some sanctions or limitations caused by the global market situation -- they are also the result of our own shortcomings that have piled up over the years . ''
Vladimir Putin said government could not afford to take holiday vacation this year . He calls economic woes not just the fault of the West . Russia 's battered economy ' also the cause of our own shortcomings '