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Sometimes I think, maybe they'll (the West) let the bear eat berries and honey in the forest, maybe they will leave it in peace," Putin said at a news conference in Moscow on Thursday, using a metaphor to refer to Russia's famed symbol.
"They will not. Because they will always try to put him on a chain, and as soon as they succeed in doing so they tear out his fangs and his claws."
Putin also accused the West of trying to infringe on Russia's sovereignty, adding the Ukrainian crisis was just a pretext for Western action.
Putin: West wants to put Russian bear 'on a chain'Putin said sanctions were responsible for up to 30% of Russia's economic crisis and added the ruble would stabilize.
"The current situation has been provoked by external factors, but it's worth noting that we haven't done what we planned to do to diversify our economy," he said
some colorful language -read other sources for more in depth.
He also mention US torture post 9-11, and lashes out at a question about political reform.
Be interesting to see if Russia can diversify from an extractive economy; or as McCain called it
"a glorified gas station"
EDIT: his annual news conference