The Major Players In The Ukrainian Crisis

Obama Putin Faceoff - Caricatures (Photo credit: DonkeyHotey)

In the midst of endless talks of sanctions, bailouts for the bankrupt Ukrainian economy, F15 fighter planes dispatched to Lithuania and chatty diplomatic telephone calls between Obama and Putin, it might be helpful to look at the players as opposed to the political agendas of Russia, the EU and the US and its allies.

Vladamir Putin, president of the Russian Federation is no doubt a tough guy. A former KGB colonel, he is oft portrayed bare-chested and buff, wrestling grizzly bears and swimming among ice floes. He is seen as decisive, bellicose and a savvy player on the international scene. He recently pulled off a spectacular Winter Olympics in Sochi to the tune of 50 billion odd dollars without a security hitch - not a black widow or toothpaste bomber in sight! Putin was every bit the charming host.

Barrack Obama, president of the US is seen by many as indecisive, naive and weak. He wears Mom jeans and is reported to have stopped sneaking the odd cigarette because he is afraid of Michelle, his wife who has better biceps than he does. Soundly criticized for the "pink line" he drew in the sands of Syria, and for failing to punish anyone over the four dead Americans at Benghazi and for brokering a deal with the Iranians, promising to ease sanctions if they abandon their enrichment program, Barrack Obama inspires little but a lot of eye rolling when it comes to foreign policy.

The key player for the EU is Germany's Angela Merkel. Ms. Merkel keeps a low profile in the press. She is never seen in a bikini or Mom jeans frolicking with her pets or playing golf quite possibly because she is busy running the largest country and the wealthiest economy in Europe and being the EU's "go to gal". But she will not blink first in the face of Vladamir Putin's testosterone fueled rants or Barrack Obama's penchant for playing with pink crayons. She is a lady who says what she means and means what she says, conveying an attitude of calm resolve and is perhaps the only western leader equipped to deal with all parties involved in the Ukrainian crisis.