KW: Becasue of Russiaphobia in the U.S. Trump (who is erratic and not to be relied on) is being forced to confront his position by showing just how tough he is on Putin. The killing of 200 Russians in Syria he claims he sanctioned and so this is how tough he is. This will back fire. Making America great again comes at a price paid for by foreigners always.
The risk is that Russia will interpret what until now was deemed largely as an accident, as an overt act meant to punish Russia by killing its troops – whether legitimate soldiers or mercs – and Putin would have no choice but to respond in kind.