Have no fear , Vladimir Putin is here . That seems to be the message in an epic promo released ahead of the Russian president 's annual news conference as the country 's economy plummets . The promotion , released by a state-owned Russian channel , has the feel of a movie trailer , showing scenes of tanks , crying children and plenty of Putin . He declares in a particularly memorable sound bite : `` The bear never asks permission . '' That seems to be a problem these days in Russia -- it 's a bear , not a bull market . Putin who has held power for 15 years , is expected to address the economic problems vexing Russia as falling oil prices , a diving ruble and Western sanctions have crippled the country 's economy . Moscow is trying to prevent a currency crisis turning into an economic catastrophe , and finds itself more isolated than at any other point in the last 25 years -- due to its actions over Ukraine . Russia 's slide toward economic crisis and why it matters . Worried that their currency is now worth less , Russians have been exchanging rubles for dollars and stocking up on imported goods . And Russian banks and companies have lost access to Western sources of finance because of sanctions imposed over Ukraine , but still have foreign debts to pay . Yet in the lead up to Putin 's press conference , Russia Channel 1 's glossy promo does n't touch on any of the financial woes facing the world 's ninth largest economy . The promotion shows scenes of war and triumph at this year 's Winter Olympics in Sochi as the narrator intones in a baritone about `` a year of tough decisions '' and `` long-awaited victories . '' `` How it turned out for Russia and its president , he will tell himself . '' A defiant Putin proclaims , `` Russia has never changed its orientation . '' Putin still enjoys approval ratings in the high 80s . His popularity surged as Russia backed separatists in east Ukraine and annexed Crimea earlier this year . Could economic turmoil lead to Putin 's downfall ?
Russian state-owned channel releases a promotion for President Putin 's news conference . Putin is expected to address the economic woes hitting Russia . Moscow is trying to prevent a currency crisis turning into an economic catastrophe .