第二段最后一句
Mr Putin left Mr Kudrin alone, knowing that his own popularity was dependent on his finance minister’s skills.
普京给与库德林充分的自由,因为他知道自己的声望源自于这位财政部长的专业素养。
这里his是普京,就是说经济稳定他才能受人民拥护。
He was even sounded out for the job of prime minister, once Mr Putin had returned to the Kremlin.
我觉得后面那半句是“一旦普京重返克里姆林宫的意思”。普京明年参加总统选举,若获胜,则“重返克里姆林宫”,所以这句话有虚拟语气的意味。