Interesting reader's comment.
"i believe russia is not in such a bad shape, as long as the usd is high, which means it makes fx gains by selling oil (settled in usd) and in the fx markets. the u.s. is now an oil exporter and a major market player, low oil prices will impact its oil industry too. opec is not helping the u.s., it is working for its own good.
despite the fact the russia's financial strength is much better than the old ussr, china does play a vital role to counter the u.s. salvo of financial attacks nowadays, e.g. the currency swap deal which releases fx pressure for both countries, and all these measures will only draw the sino-russian pact closer, along with the other countries which do not want to be dragged into the u.s. agenda.
i also believe the currency war between china and the u.s. has in fact long started, as many authors have already written books about it.
the largest shale gas deposit is not in the u.s. but in china, and it's not even being touched much yet."