In the absence of competence in world affairs from the U.S., others are taking up the torch, so to speak. 
Putin is ex-KGB, and there's quite a bit of evidence that he has no qualms about bumping off people that annoy him. 
Nevertheless, he is very intelligent and he has quite a good grasp on what is going on in the world. I watched those Oliver Stone interviews and I was very impressed. Call them propaganda if you like, I won't disagree.