Vladimir Putin is reverting to the old Soviet model, using Russia's burgeoning oil wealth to rebuild and modernize its military and throw its weight around, particularly in Europe.

Back in mid-July of last year, President Putin "dumped a key arms control treaty limiting the deployment of conventional forces in Europe" (The Observer, July 15, 2007). Then recently "he signed a law suspending Russia's participation in a key post–cold war arms treaty in a move that will effectively kill off one of the landmark defence agreements between Moscow and the west" (Financial Times, Dec. 1, 2007).

Amid cries of foul play and vote rigging, Putin's United Russia party won some 62 percent of the vote in a recent national election, firmly establishing his hold on the country's leadership. Whether as president until next spring or prime minister later, apparently the Russian electorate as a whole has firmly backed him. Diplomatic relations with the United States have been worsening for the last few years.