Ego’s are writing checks they can’t cash.
Putin HATES Obama.
Obama HATES Putin
A wider war may come out of this.
I suppose Obama does hate Putin because Putin easily bests him at every turn, making him look like an idiot.
OTOH, I doubt Putin hates Obama. Who can hate the rube at the card game that makes everyone else rich? You don't respect him, but you sure don't want him to go away, at least not until you've totally tapped him out.
Putin knows if Obama stays at the helm, there's two more years of humiliating defeat for the US and easy victories for him. Should Obama leave the table, the next guy won't be so naïve.
Napolean had a saying about stupid leaders - "Never interrupt your enemy while he's making a mistake"