The title of the BBC news puts Sherman versus Putin: their status is not equal. They are not holding talks with each other. Sharman's counterpart is Ryabkov. Here is how the BBC sees it: Can the 'Silver Fox' outwit Vladimir Putin? Wendy Sherman, one of the world's most powerful diplomats, is known as the Silver Fox because of her snowy white mane and her canny deal-making style. On Wednesday, she is helping to lead the US-Russia talks in Europe. Ms Sherman - the US Deputy Secretary of State, one of the department's top positions - has been meeting Russian officials this week to discuss Ukraine. The stakes are high.