His popularity surged as Russia backed separatists in east Ukraine and annexed Crimea earlier this year . Russian state-owned channel releases a promotion for President Putin 's news conference . The video shows the president answering questions from journalists and then smiling broadly as he answers them himself, with his hands on his hips. Moscow is trying to prevent a currency crisis turning into an economic catastrophe .
Russian state-owned channel releases a promotion for President Putin 's news conference . The video shows the president answering questions from journalists and then smiling broadly as he answers them himself, with his hands on his hips. Moscow is trying to prevent a currency crisis turning into an economic catastrophe .