President Vladimir Putin 's news conferences are n't at all like news conferences I used to attend in Washington , when I covered the White House . First , there are the stuffed animals . Since there are more than 1,200 journalists in the giant hall , they have to attract President Putin 's attention some way , so some bring stuffed animals , raise home-made signs , or wear T-shirts specially printed up to advertise the region or news organization they come from . Then there 's the length of the conference . This one was the usual length -- three and a half hours . Others have been longer . This was Vladimir Putin 's 10th news conference and it could n't have happened at a worse time . As the Russians say , the smell of kerosene was in the air . The value of the Russian currency , the ruble , was dropping like a stone , the U.S. and Europe were just announcing yet more sanctions , Russia was on the verse of a recession , but the president refused to call it a `` crisis . '' Striding into the hall , Putin appeared cool , calm and collected . Close-ups of the president 's face were broadcast on two giant screens on either side of the hall , his every glance , every gesture visible . Putin 's first challenge was to assure his fellow citizens that Russia can overcome what he called an `` unfavorable scenario '' and he promised that would happen -- in two years , maybe less . There was no real mea culpa for Russia 's economic predicament . Putin admitted only that the Russian Central Bank and the government could have reacted more quickly to the economic challenges . Instead , he blamed Russia 's economic woes on `` external '' factors , asserting that economic sanctions account for just `` 25 to 30 % '' of Russia 's economic problems . When a BBC reporter asked him about a `` new '' Cold War , Putin leaned forward like an athlete , insisting that that Russia is simply defending its own interests . Moscow , he said , has only two military bases outside its territory but the U.S. has bases `` all over the world . '' They told us there would be no NATO expansion , he complained , and now the West is building new virtual walls around Russia . Putin is adept at turning the tables . One journalist asked him about reprisals by Chechen authorities against the families of alleged terrorists , accusing Russia 's government-financed TV channels of igniting hatred in society . Putin quickly pointed to the torture report just released by the White House . The U.S. he said , `` legalized torture '' and even developed a method for carrying it out . `` How do you explain that ? '' he asked indignantly . Putin spoke for several minutes on the image of the Russian `` bear . '' The West , he claimed , wo n't leave the bear in peace , but wants to `` chain '' it , `` de-claw it , '' unless it sits obediently in the forest , eating berries . If there was one promising note , it was the Russian president 's statement that the conflict in eastern Ukraine should be settled peacefully . He acknowledged that there were Russians in eastern Ukraine , but they were `` volunteers . '' Surprisingly , the president called on some journalists who are not known as being friendly to the Kremlin and there were some uncomfortable questions . When Putin said there 's a `` fine line '' between the opposition and a `` Fifth Column '' -- in other words , traitors to Russia -- reporters twice followed up with pointed questions , including a demand that he name those members of the `` Fifth Column . '' He did not . Others asked him what is the salary of Igor Sechin , head of the Russian oil giant Rosneft ? He said he did n't know . In one of the most dramatic questions , a Russian reporter asked Putin if he is worried that members of his inner circle could carry out a `` palace coup ? '' Putin , who in spite of his somewhat fierce image abroad , does have a sense of humor , defused the question with a smile . `` We ca n't have a palace coup because we have no palaces , '' he said . Stability is based on support of the Russian people , he said , and `` the people believe we are acting in their interest . ''
Putin 's first challenge was to assure Russians they can overcome an `` unfavorable scenario '' The Russian president said the Ukraine conflict should be settled peacefully . Putin is adept at turning the tables , writes Jill Dougherty . By JILL DOWDY and MICHAEL McCARTHY We ca n't have a palace coup because we have no palaces ''