What in Vladimir Putin's demeanor appealed to the Russian population?
Vladimir Putin's demeanor as a tough, no-nonsense ruler—who promised stability and safety to a country buffeted by a decade of turbulence and declining global prestige—appealed to the Russian population. He presented himself as the personification of Russian strength and power. He reached into Russia’s past to resurrect the ghosts of an earlier era of stability, security, power, and prestige.