Hillary was going to be tough on Russia and impose stricter sanctions. For that reason alone, Trump was seen by Putin as the far more preferable option. Putin and Russia's actions to get Trump elected may have had more to do with not wanting Hillary than actually wanting Trump. That Putin knew Trump may have been a plus, and Michael Cohen certainly has ties to Russia. Precisely how much under the table handshaking was going on is difficult to say and we have to wait for the investigation to play out, but it's highly likely that Putin was in the anybody is better than Hillary camp and him knowing Trump gave him an inroad.

Trump also refused to apply the sanctions that congress passed against Russia, so it seems that he did do a favor for them. You can speculate as to whether that was in return for their help getting him elected.

There's an answer above that Trump struck Assad for chemical weapons use. Yes, but after giving the Russians a call telling them he would do that.

When interviewed, and the interviewer told Trump that Putin was a killer, Trump's answer was "there are many killers". Trump doesn't seem at all interested in putting Putin down. He has one military strike against Syria for chemical weapons use, but beyond that, he's talked well of Putin and done him a favor by not implying the sanctions that congress wrote into law with a veto-proof majority.

Whether this is evidence that Trump is returning a favor is hard to say, but Trump has been soft on Russia. Article on that, and another.

Hillary was going to be tough on Russia and impose stricter sanctions. For that reason alone, Trump was seen by Putin as the far more preferable option (and for the record, Bernie would have been too and perhaps Rubio/Christie/Cruz and a few others). Putin and Russia's actions to get Trump elected may have had more to do with not wanting Hillary than actually wanting Trump, but as the election got closer and Trump won the primary, that became moot and it was all about helping Trump/hurting Hillary.

That Putin had met Trump and perhaps had minor business deals in the past may have been a plus, and Michael Cohen had ties to Russia though whether Putin was aware of the Michael Cohen connection (I'm sure he was because he does his homework), but whether Michael Cohen was seen as a factor in helping Trump is unclear.

Precisely how much under the table handshaking went on is difficult/impossible to say and we have to wait for the investigation to play out, but it's likely that Putin was in the anybody is better than Hillary camp and whether he was also in a Trump is my secret buddy camp too is unclear.

On Trump's softness on Russia

Trump also refused to apply the sanctions that congress passed against Russia, so it seems that he did do a favor for them. You can speculate as to whether that was in return for their help getting him elected.

There's an answer above that Trump struck Assad for chemical weapons use. Yes, but after giving the Russians a call telling them he would do that.

When interviewed, and the interviewer told Trump that Putin was a killer, Trump's answer was "there are many killers". Trump doesn't seem at all interested in putting Putin down. He has one military strike against Syria for chemical weapons use, but beyond that, he's talked well of Putin and done him a favor by not applying the sanctions that congress wrote into law with a veto-proof majority.

Whether this is evidence that Trump is returning a favor is impossible to say, but Trump has been accused of being soft on Russia by many. Article on that, and another.

Hillary was going to be tough on Russia and impose stricter sanctions. For that reason alone, Trump was seen by Putin as the far more preferable option. Putin and Russia's actions to get Trump elected may have had more to do with not wanting Hillary than actually wanting Trump.

Trump also refused to apply the sanctions that congress passed against Russia, so it seems that he did do a favor for them. You can speculate as to whether that was in return for their help getting him elected.

There's an answer above that Trump struck Assad for chemical weapons use. Yes, but after giving the Russians a call telling them he would do that.

When interviewed, and the interviewer told Trump that Putin was a killer, Trump's answer was "there are many killers". Trump doesn't seem at all interested in putting Putin down. He has one military strike against Syria for chemical weapons use, but beyond that, he's talked well of Putin and done him a favor by not implying the sanctions that congress wrote into law with a veto-proof majority.

Whether this is evidence that Trump is returning a favor is hard to say, but Trump has been soft on Russia. Article on that, and another.

Hillary was going to be tough on Russia and impose stricter sanctions. For that reason alone, Trump was seen by Putin as the far more preferable option. Putin and Russia's actions to get Trump elected may have had more to do with not wanting Hillary than actually wanting Trump. That Putin knew Trump may have been a plus, and Michael Cohen certainly has ties to Russia. Precisely how much under the table handshaking was going on is difficult to say and we have to wait for the investigation to play out, but it's highly likely that Putin was in the anybody is better than Hillary camp and him knowing Trump gave him an inroad.

Trump also refused to apply the sanctions that congress passed against Russia, so it seems that he did do a favor for them. You can speculate as to whether that was in return for their help getting him elected.

There's an answer above that Trump struck Assad for chemical weapons use. Yes, but after giving the Russians a call telling them he would do that.

When interviewed, and the interviewer told Trump that Putin was a killer, Trump's answer was "there are many killers". Trump doesn't seem at all interested in putting Putin down. He has one military strike against Syria for chemical weapons use, but beyond that, he's talked well of Putin and done him a favor by not implying the sanctions that congress wrote into law with a veto-proof majority.

Whether this is evidence that Trump is returning a favor is hard to say, but Trump has been soft on Russia. Article on that, and another.