Neither, of course.
And I concur that the current crop of world leaders lack the quality you call "masterful".
Putin is playing to the cheap seats. Those who sit in them should be aware, if they aren't already, that the Bush "Doctrine" (it pains me to elevate such a reactionary hodge-podge with the term doctrine) expires in 23 months, at the latest. I seriously doubt anyone who succeeds him, Republican or Democrat, will follow that course.