Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a live broadcast nationwide phone-in in Moscow April 17, 2014. Putin on Thursday said Russia had been forced to respond to NATO enlargement and that its annexation of Crimea, home to its Black Sea Fleet, was partly influenced by the Western military alliance's expansion into eastern Europe. PHOTO: REUTERS
Russia in March approved an initial package of financial aid for Crimea to help the local economy, as it consolidates control over the region it annexed from neighbouring Ukraine.
Any additional strain on Russia's budget and social payments could hurt Putin's approval rating.
"We have put aside as a government reserve 240 billion roubles this year," Putin said in a televised address to the nation. "Costs subsidising Crimea programmes will not exceed 100 billion."
In the medium term, Putin said he was confident that Crimea would become self-sufficient.
Russia's finance minister Anton Siluanov said last month that Russia had budget reserves of around 240 billion which could be used for aid to Crimea. evoted to break away from Ukraine on March 16, is important to Putin's hopes of maintaining the support of the local population and keeping his popularity ratings high across Russia. ($1 = 36.0942 Russian roubles)
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In the medium term, Putin said he was confident that Crimea would become self-sufficient. . Yeah right .. except that it's dirt poor and most of it's water, power and food comes from Ukraine ... and then there is the "small" matter that it doesn't actually physically connect with Russia. One of those small oversights that the Chest Thumpers missed.