Donald Trump's penchant for shaking up global geopolitics unsettles Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin watches helplessly as its allies plead for help when besieged by the United States, offering them nothing but reassuring words. The latest example is Venezuela, which is facing US attacks against their vessels under accusations of drug trafficking. Nicolás Maduro would appreciate military support from Moscow, but the Russian leader is neither in a position to assist his partner nor interested in confronting Washington. Putin and Maduro spoke by telephone on Thursday. According to a very brief statement from the Kremlin, the Russian leader expressed "solidarity" with the Venezuelan people and reaffirmed support for his government's policies "aimed at protecting national interests and sovereignty in the face of increasing external pressure." Not a word about the United States, much less about weapons. He also pledged to develop "friendly relations" between the two countries under the strategic partnership and cooperation treaty they signed in November. Although this agreement provides for exchanges in the military-technical sphere, it does not obligate either party to assist the other in the event of an attack. Russia has only committed to providing military assistance under this provision to Belarus and North Korea. The agreement with Venezuela is more similar to what the Kremlin has also signed with Iran, and as has been demonstrated when Tehran was attacked by Israel and the United States in JunePutin is not forcing Moscow to lift a finger for its allies.