The worst thing facing Russia is an increase in American energy products, especially natural gas. Putin was looking for his EU gas deal to become a real cash cow, with Russia controlling the price of energy across Europe, but America produces natural gas almost without trying, and looks like it will keep the worldwide price under control with exports.

If Trump isn't sabotaged by the left, he could really force Russia to pull back from its adventurism. Reducing involvement in foreign wars would enable them a better focus on the needs of their own people. The question is whether they need a new leader to achieve this.

Promise more than is available to deliver.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Socialism in any form has not worked very well for any country that tried it. Even the PRC has had to abandon it to some extent.
Russia faces some of he same problems it faced when runn the USSR . She coundn't solve them then and can't now. Putin's world view is essentially Socialist/Communist and he can't shake it. Both work until you run out of other peoples money. Then they crash.

It's interesting what your saying, about retirement how ever your forgetting murfeys law! (if something can go wrong it will) if sercomstances arise where you for no reason of your own you end up with no cash for you pension then your left with two choises work till you drop (not for me thanks!) or clame off the state.

Not many places on earth that are doing well and Russia doesn't even have the obobo careless system to kill you early.