To be clear. To be very clear. Donald Trump is an idiot. Putin’s “deal” on the table is the handover of territories which would neuter Ukraine’s defensive positions. On top of that, he demands huge reductions to the Ukrainian military in both manpower and specific technologies. On top of that, he demands political influence on Ukraine. Putin does not want to make a deal unless it’s a Ukrainian capitulation. It is the Ukrainian side who has repeatedly offered an IMMEDIATE ceasefire along the lines of contact. It is the Ukrainian side who has repeatedly offered a bilateral energy ceasefire. It is the Russians who reject these offers, because Putin wants to continue to prosecute the war until he achieves victory. He views offers of ceasefires as proof that he’s winning. They’re signs of weakness in his eyes. Trump has expressed extreme frustration over this because he realizes he cannot get the Russians to capitulate without continued weapons transfers to Ukraine and enabling certain technologies. He views Ukraine as intransigent because they will not accept a strategic defeat which would mean a temporary peace in Europe that would break down when Trump leaves office. Trump wants to do business with the Russians. He wants to make money. He doesn’t care about the political system. He views Ukraine as the barrier to this because they won’t surrender and give up the country. Because he is a dumb person who doesn’t have moral philosophy beyond narcissistic self-interest.