Did PM Putin deliberately sit President Obama in a chair way too low, to make him look and feel awkward for the TV cameras?

The great debate unfolds.

The point of such sly diplomatic insults is that the victim dare not show that s/he is aware of them, even if s/he is.

So heads you win – the victim not realising what is going on is somehow belittled (maybe even subconsciously) in the eyes of TV viewers.

And tails you win – the victim does realise what is going on but dare not show it, for fear of looking petulant for no obvious reason. Hence you can relish the victim’s inward helpless squirmishings, with both of you knowing what is happening.

All very psychologically involved.

But highly effective.

And why articles like these somehow fail to capture something important.

Whether the Kremlin has ‘bargaining power’ depends on what you think each side is trying to achieve.