Firn---in comments yesterday by a former Russian Finance Minister the Russian budget this year was targeting a growth rate of 3.5% and if sanctions are imposed he is saying the growth rate may in fact be 0% and the Crimea costs were not factored in and approved for this year.

Average Russian taxpayer will be carrying the Crimea burden for years to come.

He indicated that there is talk of 80-90M USD per month in just support to keep the Crimea running and the Crimean's felt that with joining Russia their individual salaries would be going to Russian levels (was posted on placards around the cities) which is also not in the budget that was approved so he is estimating an annual cost of 20B USD per year just to do a steady state.

Reference an economic embargo---he feels it will not happen but worse for Russia is they the EU knows exactly where to place "specific targeted sanctions" against specific business types and products that will in a relatively short period hurt the economy baldy and they will do it as they feel the entire world community condemns what Russia has done and Russia is in effective politically isolated and has to take the hits.

His comment was interesting---the EU understands our economy better than we do.