This article analyzes the leadership style of Russian President Vladimir Putin during his first public appearance after Russian military forces invaded the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea. The March 4, 2014, press conference lasted 64 min and was an opportunity to examine Putin's leadership style under conditions of uncertainty and stress. The author describes Putin's self- presentation, thought process, emphasis on masking aggression and masking his personal needs/experiences; as well as engaging in moralistic as well as legalistic/factual lecturing, how he presents his allies and his rivals, discusses implicit thought content, and concludes with a description of Putin's core leadership dynamics.