NYT: Trump Creates Far More Problems For Putin Than He Solves

The President of the United States is playing an interesting game.

US President Donald Trump declares a desire for "strategic stability with Russia," but in practice his actions increasingly lead to aggravation of relations with Moscow. A striking example is the seizure by the US military of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, which was one of the most provocative operations against Russia during Trump's second term, according to The New York Times.

Officially, Washington said it was acting as part of a blockade of Venezuelan oil exports and called the vessel "stateless." Moscow, however, took it as an outright insult. Russian MP Leonid Slutsky called the incident "piracy of the 21st century."

As the publication notes, Trump is trying to combine incompatible things - personal agreements with Vladimir Putin and demonstration of global military superiority of the United States. Kennan Institute director Michael Kimmage says:

"He seems to be creating a lot more problems for Putin than he's solving."

Despite talks with the Kremlin, Trump has made no concessions on Ukraine: the US continues to share intelligence with Kiev, and Europe is only increasing its own defense spending amid US-European disputes - a negative signal for Moscow.

Washington's line in the Western Hemisphere remains particularly tough. The US is openly opposing Russian influence in Venezuela, pressuring its authorities and hitting the "shadow fleet" to which countries under sanctions sell oil. The seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker has come to symbolize this strategy.

The Kremlin reacted with restraint - without threats or sharp statements from Putin. Analysts believe Moscow is deliberately lowering the degree to keep the door open for a potential deal with Trump on Ukraine. At the same time, the incident exposed Russia's limited ability to influence the situation by force.

"Russia cannot rely solely on coercion. That is its main contradiction - and Trump may only be making it more obvious," Kimmedge concluded.

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