Putin's Strategic Goal(s) and Trump

My impression of Vladimir Putin's strategic goals has been that he wants to hurt America without having to engage in direct war between Russia and America. To that end he has perhaps funded various causes around the globe which have been problems America had to spend a lot of money solving. He has also recently brought Turkey into his sphere of influence and then watches Turkey going after the Kurds in Syria while the U.S. forces work with and defend the Kurds.

Putin wants proxies to do his dirty work. This is probably a remnant of his training as a KGB officer. Act quietly, act behind the veil, let others take the risks.

With regard to his limited economy and oil, he has attacked Ukraine and tried to blackmail Europeans into letting him do anything he wants or else face cold winters without natural gas from Russia. More recently he has (apparently) used Pres. Trump and the new leader of Saudi Arabia to bully another Middle-Eastern country which has natural gas reserve, to intimidate them into NOT selling gas to France. Russia (Putin) wants to have domination of the natural gas market for Europe.

Politically Putin has opponents and it appears he has become much more aggressive jailing, smearing, attacking, stealing the wealth of, and killing opponents, even in the United Kingdom (an American ally and a NATO member). Is there proof he did this? It seems he wants the world to know he did this by using a weapon nobody else has. Why would he pull back the veil and show his hand? He has already ensured America will be at odds with any calls from NATO members. It's a way of stirring the pot of anger and frustration. Besides, it may have helped his election efforts to appear a nationalist hero who kills "traitors", even when they have gone abroad.

Recent actions by Pres. Trump include personnel changes, but also the beginning of what appears to be a trade war with China (and perhaps some other countries). Why is that important? Putin has made treaty agreements with China and may be interested in watching China and/or Turkey fighting U.S. forces while he watches in safety. It's a typical bully game: "Let's you and him fight!"

Putin is dangerous and Trump seems a willing tool.