| Kremlin insiders gathered in secret last February to answer a crucial question for Vladimir Putin: Could Russia afford the economic blowback from taking over Crimea? Moscow said yes. Markets aren’t so sure.
About 40 percent of Russia’s reserves are held in two sovereign wealth funds that are controlled by the Finance Ministry. The government is looking for ways to tap these funds to help cash-strapped enterprises while maintaining as much international currency as possible. The Finance Ministry has already said it will use the other sovereign fund, the $89 billion Reserves Fund, which was meant to be used to fight inflation, to cover at least half a projected 1 trillion-ruble budget shortfall next year.............................................Full Article: Source
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