Donald Trump and his poisoned gift for Vladimir Putin

"And another gift," writes Dimitrij Smirnov on Twitter. To this end, the journalist of the mbad media newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda", close to the Kremlin, has published a picture of President Vladimir Putin in an interview with Fox News. Russian state television has repeatedly aired the conversation with US President Donald Trump's favorite channel on Tuesday.

Of course, Putin is still the winner of Russian public television, including at the meeting with Trump in Helsinki. That full interviews and press conferences are repeated by state broadcasters is rather rare.

Putin, the world's politician

Even foreign media outlets, such as the Finnish daily "Kauppalehti", see the encounter with Trump as a success for Putin. On the title page, the newspaper showed a picture of heads of state led by a football result – "Trump 0 – Putin 1". The Washington Post said Trump was "very successful in a clear and unexpected goal: to make Russia even more beautiful." (Read the press review here.)

While Trump's answers were rather vague, Putin managed to position himself in the Finnish capital as an experienced and cautious global politician.

But what is the value of the success of Putin in Helsinki? What will remain of the images of the presidents of handshaking? The photos of the Russian head of state, who again stressed his role as host of the World Cup when he presented a football to Trump?

Putin at the level of the eyes

Good news for Putin: He is dealing with an American president who gives him respect. After recently shunning British Prime Minister Theresa May and NATO officials, Trump called Putin a "good competitor".

For the Russian president, this level of cooperation is the basis of all cooperation. In the medium term, its goal should be to break at least the spiral of sanctions that have recently overshadowed both countries. The punitive measures against the Russian oligarchs were too painful, as they showed – as was the case of Oleg Deripaska – not only the companies of the Kremlin's loyal businessmen, but also the international companies affiliated with them

The investigation of two scandals has not publicly criticized – in the case of poisoning with former dual agent Sergei Skripal and Novitschok the launch of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Problem: The ego of Trump

Putin's dilemma lies in Trump's behavior. Time and time again, journalists had asked the American president in Helsinki when he believed the head of the Russian state. Putin again denied having anything to do with interference in the US elections. While the head of the Russian state was putting his usual poker face, Trump has gone too far.

He made it clear that he believed his Russian colleague more than his own secret service. "Why does not anyone show me the Democratic Party server – e-mails?" He asked – and then added, "President Putin was strong and convincing in his refusal." An American president attaches more importance to the remarks of the head of the Russian state, former head of the secret services? An extraordinary process.

A day later, an unusual statement followed. After heavy criticism in the United States and in the ranks of his own Republican party, Trump contradicted his own statements. He admitted that Russia had participated in the last US elections and that he now accepted information from US intelligence

Trump hailed his "big" campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton – "that's why I'm president". This appearance once again showed Trump's fate: he does not want to be kidnapped by his historic electoral victory, and in his eyes the victory was his only merit

Putin caressed the overflowing Trump ego in Helsinki . Once, he even called the Republican by his first name ("It was a wonderful meeting, Donald!"). Later, in the presence of Russian journalists, Putin praised Trump as "qualified and well prepared," Americans listen, let the arguments apply, but insist on their own point of view.

The journey becomes smaller

However, Putin will not benefit from all this. Trump really wants to start a new dialogue with Russia – but after his emotional appearance, it should be more difficult now.

The US president fueled the national debate about his relationship with the Russians. Its scope in cooperation with Putin is thus reduced. For every thrust of Trump, every home should now be viewed even more critically. Especially as Putin publicly announced for the first time that Trump was his favorite candidate in the US elections.

For Putin, the meeting in Helsinki will have long-term consequences. As expected, he returned to Russia without specific results. The first signs of cooperation with the United States were visible in Helsinki – such as nuclear disarmament. Putin and Trump know that an arms race is dangerous and expensive. There was also talk of the Syrian war, which is to guarantee the security of Israel, to fight terrorism and to provide humanitarian aid.

However, we do not know how things will continue in Russian-American relations. Whatever the case may be, Trump and Putin were not in agreement for another meeting in Helsinki.