engage substantively, to take a wait and see approach, and putin will surely be there to fill any empty time in their schedules when they do. so how is he, meaning president putin, trying to manage these appearances, not just at home but abroad? putin likes to show off his shiny objects. before the election he had that crazy press conference where he broadcast his invincible missile. he puts on a massive military parade every year in moscow, i have actually been to one. last week russia kicked off its army expo, is about to launch massive military exercises with china and mongolia. they like to show off military hardware and military toys. und underneath these shows of force, the russian economy is actually under pressure. modest growth is expected this year, 1.8%. the rub he wile hit a two year when u.s. sanctions went into effect, and investors aren t