I guess the isolationist wing of MAGA does not yet understand that our President is first of all a businessman, with entertainment interests. An important way to MAGA is to increase our business activity, and that includes expanding our efforts in many parts of the world. That is part of what the tariff battles are about. A favorable exchange with many countries on the import and export of products.
I imagine our President has come to realize that Putin with all his politeness is just a very polished gangster. My brother ended doing some business work for Mafia types looking to launder some money in upstate NY real estate historic properties. My brother new the laws well regard the various phases of permitting and construction law. Often those guys would ask him to manage things a slightly crooked way. He would explain that it was actually easier and cheaper to follow the laws and regulations on those projects and orders. Still they would insist on their way quite often. He finally concluded that they had a deep psychological need to game the system whenever possible. They say Putin is an excellent chess player, so perhaps playing the game is more important than the result to him.
“they (mafiosi) had a deep psychological need to game the system whenever possible”
Maybe like a gambler, they got a thrill out of it - conditioned to seeking adrenaline and dopamine.