One explanation could be that, if Trump is a Russian asset, he'd be more effective at it if he wasn't obviously one. Seizing all tankers except russian ones might be too obvious.
Therefore, it might be worth it for Russia to lose a few tankers in order to keep one of their greatest assets.
All hypothetical of course. I'm sure Trump isn't a Russian asset. No way they can have kompromat on such a virtuous guy.
My 1st guess is that they made Ribentrop-Molotov deal last year in Alaska. 2nd guess he is drunk on power and inpunity. Or maybe both.
The stupidest answer is the most likely one. Occam's Kazoo.
Because they were transporting Venezuelan oil?
It’s not even clear whether they were actually Russian or if they were just flying the Russian flag to try and not get captured.
But even if they were Russian, it was a clear area in which Putin overstepped his boundary.
One explanation could be that, if Trump is a Russian asset, he'd be more effective at it if he wasn't obviously one. Seizing all tankers except russian ones might be too obvious.
Therefore, it might be worth it for Russia to lose a few tankers in order to keep one of their greatest assets.
All hypothetical of course. I'm sure Trump isn't a Russian asset. No way they can have kompromat on such a virtuous guy.