Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. Within a couple of days of launching Russia’s war of choice against Ukraine, are signs Putin bit off more than he can comfortably chew. Setting aside the punishments inflicted by the West and setting aside whatever the measure of the Ukrainian resistance, others are getting into the act – and they don’t much like what they see. Xi has gotten nervous the situation in Europe is getting out of hand – he’s even offered to play mediator. Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban, Putin’s pal, has felt obliged on this one to side with Europe and against Russia. And India’s Prime Minster, Narendra Modi, has called for an “immediate cessation of violence.” Who’s left to stand by their man, Putin? Oh wait. There’s always Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro.
Joseph Biden, President of the United States. He’s managed under difficult circumstances to stay steady. On the one side to convey strength and resolve, and on the other not to be pushed into imposing the most extreme level of sanctions against Russia, or to cut off diplomatic channels. I’m not arguing here that Joe Biden is Winston Churchill. Nor am I suggesting that I agree with his every decision at every step. Still, give the man credit. He’s doing what he set out to do. He, his administration, predicted the Russians were coming. They did – and the White House was prepared.
Volodymr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. The same cannot be said for Zelenskyy. If he knew the Russians were coming, he did not share the information with the Ukrainian people. To the contrary: in recent weeks he repeatedly reassured them there would be no Russian invasion. Still, to say that he was caught between a rock and a hard place is to understate it. The man now has a target on his back, and yet he’s hanging in and standing proud, offering still to talk to Putin if only Putin would return the favor. Is Zelensky a hero? Or a fool? Both?
Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, and Olaf Scholz, respectively Prime Minister of Great Britain, President of France, and Chancellor of Germany. For different reasons, the last several days have chastened all three. Johnson has been obliged to shed his usual glib even buffoonish self. Macron has been obliged to shed his preening posturing, of European stateman. And Scholz had been obliged to compensate for the mistake made by his widely admired (including by me) predecessor, Angela Merkel, who chose to get into bed with Putin for the privilege of his natural gas.
Xi Jinping, President of China. He’s turned out a wild card. One day making nice to Putin, the next day seeming to have second thoughts. My best guess is he will not want to play the part of Putin’s partner. It’s one thing to have played kissy-kissy with the Russian during the recent Olympics, when he flew to China for the express purpose of cozying up to its president. But it’s quite another to stand alongside a bit of a madman who’s managed single-handedly to infuriate or at least alienate most everyone who is anyone.
