He clicked Hillary’s “Reset” button and got deleted.
If Putin leaves the picture, any void could likely be filled by guy named Vladislav Surkov, supposed to be a real hard-liner.
I’ve heard the name a few times over the last year, but don’t know much about him.
Surkov is the one that Kiev blames for the Maidan Shootings. He used to be a Deputy Prime Minister, but became an advisor to Putin in June 2013.
Some sources I’ve read refer to him as “The Grey Cardinal”.