Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke at a lengthy end-of-the-year news conference, making his first public comments on the economy since the Ruble exchange rate started to swing wildly earlier in the week.  He vowed to fix his country’s ailing economy within two years, and placed blame for the problems.

Russia’s jittery economy is being hurt by “external factors”, according to Putin – chiefly low oil prices, but also because of western economic sanctions leveled on Moscow because of Russia’s involvement in the violence in eastern Ukraine.

“We are going through a trying period, difficult times at the moment,” Putin told reporters, mostly from state-run media but also a few from other outlets.  “I would not call the situation a crisis.  You may call it whatever you want.”

Earlier this week, the Ruble plunged to historic lows of about 80 to the US Dollar, because leveling closer to 60.  The Russian currency lost 40 percent on the year.

Throughout the three-hour news conference at a Moscow hotel, Putin fielded a flurry of questions on topics ranging from his love life to the economy to Ukraine – about which he showed ne signs of changing his policy.  Likening Russia to a bear, Putin said he would resist the west’s attempts to control Russia’s behavior.

“Maybe he should stop chasing pigs and boars around the taiga, but start picking berries and eating honey.  Maybe then he will be left alone,” Putin said, warming to the bear analogy.  “But no, he won’t be!  Because someone will always try to chain him up.  As soon as he’s chained, they will tear out his teeth and claws.”

The latter was an allusion to Russia’s nuclear deterrent.