It seems to me that everything Trump has done since taking office will benefit Putin in some way.
First, take out Russia's--at least erstwhile--most powerful enemy, the USA. Trying to keep my examples brief, but there are many others.
1. Make its citizens sick (RFK Jr, cuts to disease research)
2. Make its citizens poor (lay off thousands of people, impose tariffs that will cause prices to skyrocket)
3. Make its citizens hungry (tariffs, deporting undocumented workers in the food industry)
4. Make its citizens less secure, especially against Russia (
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/02/politics/us-cyber-operations-russia-suspend/index.html)
Second, with the weakened USA well on its way to its knees, crash the world economy with tariffs that will impoverish remaining enemies in the west, so that they will be less likely to defend Ukraine and any other country he chooses to invade, like Poland.
Change my mind.