Former US national security adviser John Bolton described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a strict professional who expresses his thoughts very clearly.” in 2001, until their last meeting in 2019, stating that he is “a cool-headed person who gives the impression to those around him that he is a professional with a lot of credibility.” Bolton added that during their last meeting in 2019, he felt that Putin was aware of the important role that Russia plays on the world stage, and that he wanted to show everyone this confidence in himself and his people.
Bolton stressed that Putin understands the power he wields and that many Russians see the collapse of the Soviet Union as a mistake and want to rebuild their homeland under Putin’s leadership.
