Putin has been "nurturing" Trump for decades. And now this strategy is bearing fruit - a former US ambassador to Russia.
Michael McPaul, in an article for Foreign Affairs, explains why the relationship between Putin and Trump is not just a personal sympathy between two politicians, but the result of a long-term strategy of the Kremlin.
According to McPaul, Putin has been building ties with Trump for years, even without a specific goal. The calculation was simple: one day influencing the future American president might be useful. The former ambassador compares this approach to classic KGB tactics.
During Trump's first presidential term, his circle still held off rapprochement with Moscow. But after Trump returned to the White House, McPaul believes, the Kremlin began to receive real dividends: a reduction in American aid to Ukraine, a weakening of sanctions pressure and attempts to persuade Kiev to make concessions.
However, Putin has a problem: time is not only on his side. McFaul is convinced that the next American president - be it a Democrat or a Republican - will probably not continue the current policy towards Russia.
Therefore, the author draws an unexpected conclusion: Putin should hurry to negotiate a ceasefire. Later, conditions in the Kremlin could turn out to be much worse.