Might not Donald Trump be on to something with his "different" approach to Russia?

For centuries, there has been conflict between the West and Russia and the issue is the Russian ambition to have a warm water port.
Nearly every conflict between Russian East, and the West has something to do with the West attempting to thwart this Russian ambition, and their desire to achieve it.
The Russian move in Afghanistan in the late 70s, their recent moves in Syria, and Ukraine, are all about having a warm water port.
Not saying anybody should give these folks what they want, but after centuries of expensive and futile conflict, why not look into a different approach?
It could easily wind up being a circumstance where the Russians would challenge the Chinese in the South China Sea, and not us.
Could be worse.