Putin isn’t trying to “play” Trump. The Russian position hasn’t changed in a decade. Putin has been consistent and basically has the same demands as before the war. We are just upset that they aren’t so eager to please us that they will sign onto anything we propose.
They know Trump has no support from his own Congress, and will likely face a democrat Congress in <2 years. They know that the minute there is a “deal” we will flood in Brits, French, Poles, Germans, fighter jets, missiles, and embed everywhere as “non-NATO” peacekeepers.
Then the nazis can keep with sabotage ops, assassinations, random bombings or drone attacks etc. They know they cannot be hit in return at that point, and can plead ignorance of whodunit.
And they know we are the ones desperate for a deal.
I looked for something to oppose or at least question in your comment but I agree with it all.
Don’t worry. Trump is no dummy. He knows what’s going on