If Trump was Putin's stooge, there wouldn't even be any trash talk.
It gives zyou cover to say the kind of stupid shit you just said
Why not? Standing up to Trump's trash talk makes Putin look better and Trump look weaker, since there will be no action following the trash talk.
And makes Putin look tough to his minions back home.
A double win
Truth be told, anything positive would have required delicate foreign policy expertise and engagements from allies and countries in the region.
In other words..the Trump Admin never had a chance to accomplish anything BUT let Putin do what he wants