There are in office nowhere in the West any real leaders, only servants of the Oligarchy and vassals of the servants. Donald Trump intended to be otherwise and might yet break out of the orchestrated existence the military/security complex, Democratic Party and presstitute media have created for him.

Putin's humanity and self-control, has maintained peace despite Washington's aggression and provocative actions against Russia. It is Putin who has accepted insults that in the past would have resulted in war.

Putin has paid a price for his self-control. He has maintained peace at the expense of his standing in Russia, if a poll published on fort-russ.com is valid. According to the poll, Russians have "a lost sense of belonging to a great power." https://www.fort-russ.com/2018/12/new-poll-66-of-russians-feel-nostalgia-for-ussr/