Is the Kremlin's flirtation with Trump a calculated move or just a provocation?

Putin's position on the global stage is quite precarious today, leaving him with little choice but to attempt to court the White House. This is underscored by his statement that Trump will "bring order" to Europe while European leaders will "be at his feet." The U.S. president shared this remark on social media but has yet to comment further. This could either be a typical provocation or a calculated political maneuver by the Kremlin.

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This was revealed in an exclusive interview with journalists from Novini.LIVE by political scientist Mikhail Shabanov.

Putin Between the US and China

While Russian propaganda has yet to establish its stance on Trump, Putin finds himself in a complicated situation. The Russian president is attempting to navigate between two players — China and America. On one hand, China imposes its conditions and effectively uses Russia as a resource base. On the other hand, the US and its influence over Ukraine create additional pressure.

"It's difficult to play with Trump, because he is somewhat unpredictable in this regard; he is a person of context. Putin is currently trying to maneuver between Chinese interests and his own. Russia has essentially become a resource base for China. So he is trying to adapt to Trump's new policies. We see that, for instance, in Russian propaganda messages, there are two viewpoints: either Trump is not very bad, or he represents a total disaster for the whole world," says political scientist Mikhail Shabanov.

Kremlin's Attempt to Align with Trump

The Kremlin understands Trump's determination, especially after his recent actions concerning countries neighboring the US. Putin's attempts to connect with the new occupant of the White House appear to be strategies to minimize risks for Russia.

"Rather, it’s an attempt to align himself; Putin understands that Trump will not yield. In fact, he will do everything within his capabilities. An example is his actions regarding Panama, Mexico, and Canada; he wants to see how these decisions will unfold. His position is not advantageous right now; he still needs to find some way to hook onto the position of the new head of the White House. China might strategically undermine him," noted expert Mikhail Shabanov.

The Kremlin is trying to find ways to establish relations with the new US leadership, aiming to reduce its own vulnerability. However, Russia is already dependent on China, which significantly limits its freedom of action. Whether Putin can find a favorable balance in this game remains to be seen.

Previously, we reported on Trump's plan for the occupied Ukrainian territories. We also noted that a Russian drone was found in Moldova, near the border with the Odessa region.