No political actor dominated the global stage in 2014 like Vladimir Putin. He meddled in Ukraine and successfully annexed Crimea, but now Putin looks like he overplayed his hand. Tough sanctions from the West and plunging oil prices have left Moscow with a scary currency crisis.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
CNN: Geopolitical hot spots in 2015
An armed supporter of the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Donetsk stands on Dec. 16, 2014 on a street among destroyed houses in the airport area of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
