With higher oil prices, the Russian economy is more stable and spinning value into real incomes for its people, President Vladimir Putin told government employees. Putin spoke to government employees late Sunday, saying the last six years of his tenure were punctuated by “new challenges and extraordinary developments,” from conflict in Syria to economic recession. “We had to act with resolve and consistency, be ready to assume responsibility and implement the decisions that were taken based on up-to-date approaches,” he said in his prepared remarks . “There is no doubt that you have lived up to this task.” Western-backed sanctions targeting Russian energy companies, and historically low crude oil prices two years ago pushed the nation’s economy into deep recession and left […]