Trump's recent remarks that he want to pull troops out of Syria "like, very soon," show signs of Putin's influence, writes Frida Ghitis
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/05/opinions/putin-trump-advisor-syria-opinion-ghitis/index.html
The EU and the US have imposed wave after wave of sanctions on Russia since the beginning of the Crimea crisis in 2014. However, the Kremlin is sticking to its course and Vladimir Putin's power has only grown.
http://www.dw.com/en/western-sanctions-on-russia-lots-of-noise-and-little-impact/a-43271200
With more Russian oil heading to China, Putin doesn't have many other options.
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3593611
https://www.rbc.ru/newspaper/2018/04/05/5ac4d5309a794730d2f1b3b7
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3593530