Russian Economy in Free Fall as Politically Isolated Putin's Troubles Grow

“Saturday Night Live” often acts as a good barometer of what’s going on in the world. Last week, its opening sketch nailed just how grumpy Americans are over President Obama’s executive action on immigration, which kicks the rule of law down the Capitol steps.

But later in the show’s “Weekend Update,” a guest appearance by German Chancellor Angela Merkel (performed by Kate McKinnon) proved even more entertaining. McKinnon lampooned Merkel’s frustration with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin at the recent G20 summit.

If Putin has lost Merkel—and it looks like he has—then Moscow may be a lot less cheery this holiday season. It’ll be tougher sledding for Putin in the days ahead.

Throughout Russia’s sustained aggression against Ukraine, Merkel has tried to play the peacemaker between Putin and the West. Even after Moscow annexed Crimea, shot down flight MH17, and openly fought alongside a rebel insurgency, Germany has persisted in its quest to “work things out.”

What animates Merkel is not a consuming desire to land her own Nobel Peace Prize. It’s money: Germany has very powerful economic ties to Russia.

The chancellor’s plan was to sit down at the G20 and have a heart-to-heart with Putin. The Russian president, who speaks impeccable German, spent his four hours with Merkel playing rope-a-dope instead.

Что мне беспокоиться ?

Merkel did not leave happy.

German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier fared no better at ministerial talks in Moscow. At the concluding press conference, he muttered this assessment: “There is no reason for optimism in the current situation….”

Putin doesn’t seem to care. He looks ready to go it alone, ignoring the concerns of foreign powers and concentrating instead on drumming up populist support at home.

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