Under pressure to come up with a plan, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his end-of-year press conference.<br/> <br />But rather than outline moves to combat the country's deepening financial crisis, the leader first wanted someone to blame.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Of course, the current situation is caused by external factors first of all, but we also understand that we have not done many of those things we planned to do and we said we would do to diversify our economy over the past 20 years."<br/> <br />The Russian economy is heading into recession in what some have called a "perfect storm" of low oil prices and Western sanctions in the Ukraine crisis.<br/> <br />The rouble has fallen about 45 percent against the dollar this year - and the fallout could be felt far and wide.<br/> <br />Robert Haalver is from Baader Bank.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (German) CAPITAL MARKET ANALYST FROM BAADER BANK, ROBERT HALVER, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Russia is being hit hard and f
