While the strategy to let Russia sit on the table of grown ups did not work out in the end, I think it delayed Putins actions for a few years. I think Ukraine has much better chances than 5 years ago. And without the pandemic, it might have worked longer.

It also gave Russia the opportunity to use Syria as a testing ground.

Trump was basically a clown saying different things for different audiences.

He said that we should be more friendly with Russia and that Russia has been trated unfairly. And then said we should buy more gas and oil from the U.S. What do you make of that? Why would you buy LNG from the U.S if Russia is such a great friend and its gas pipes are nearby?

Then went at great lengths to say how Europe is the biggest foe for the United States and not Russia.

Not to mention that fiasco at the Helsinky summit. If you talk a lot of nonsese people stop treating you seriously.

If I remember right he fancied NK leader as well. Just a clown or showmen or whatever you want to call him but definitly a reliable adviser.

Germany has been warned about its dependency on Russian gas by its EU neighbours and past U.S administrations long before that clown. It's just that Germany thought Russia is not completely stupid and made a risky and bad bet. Now it has to pay. It may be for the better because now it can invest in more renewables(i.e has a cleaner slate)