Vladimir Putin is a dedicated enemy of the United States and the U.S.-led international order. But while the proof of Putin's enmity towards America is abundant and clear, Putin is an excellent PR man when he wants to be.

Note, for example, his performance at the International Arctic Forum in his home city of St. Petersburg on Wednesday.

First, Putin played the tough guy. As thousands in the audience watched and the cameras rolled, Putin saw that his economic development minister, Maxim Oreshkin, was using his phone while Putin was speaking. Big mistake. Putin asked Oreshkin how much Russia had invested in import substitution in 2018. Oreskhin didn't know the answer. Putin then publicly humiliated him. This is was the red meat for state TV: the macho man offering decidedly Russian black humor.

But Putin had a very different message for the foreign news media.

This alternate strategy was encapsulated when Putin was asked whether he wants President Trump to be reelected. Putin took a moment to consider his answer and then responded. U.S. policy towards Russia is often negative, Putin explained, but there are areas of compromise even on issues of disagreement such as Syria. Then Putin cleverly shifted the conversation to an area where international opinion is most unfavorable to the U.S.: President Trump's refusal to support the Paris climate accord. Putin presented himself as the earnest intermediary here. "The U.S. emits a lot of greenhouse gases we have to understand that so we have to find a solution. We have to somehow engage with the U.S. in a dialogue."

The diplomatic nice talk offered, Putin then returned to the original election question. It wasn't for Russia to decide, he said. "This is not the sphere where such categories as 'I want,' 'I don't want' apply. We respect the choice of the American people and whoever is elected we will work with him or her."

The crowd clapped enthusiastically.

Of course, Putin's warm earnestness is actually deliberate deception. As in 2016, Putin will interfere with the 2020 election to support the candidate whose victory he believes is most in Russia's interest.

Yet the diplomatic lying is very clever. It's not just that it sounds good, it's that it subtly plays to the belief that Putin is misrepresented in international media. That he isn't, in fact, the leader who blitzes some Syrian towns and covers up chemical weapons attacks in others. That he isn't the leader who suffocates innocents in English country villages and kills journalists. That he isn't the man who wants to dominate eastern Europe and, if undeterred, would do so by force.

Clever indeed. Putin's words in St. Petersburg were classic KGB "deza" or disinformation operations. He said things that a lot of people want to believe. And thus Putin cleverly frames himself as the good guy.