I am aware of what trump said

I'm generalising not using what he said as anything in my above post merely stating a fact and likely further outcome if

And let's be clear on this

Any side started shooting at the others in international waters

It's certainly working for the Chinese in the South China Sea atm.

The press, whatever its political leaning, wants to create drama. It sells, it creates hyperbole. The Russians, and the Soviets before them, had collection ships and collection sites. This is no different, and, the U.S. probably does a lot of it, too.

Putin grew up in KGB field operations. He thinks in a tough, Cold War manner.