“This is just stupid.”
Absolutely. What is being described would be along the lines of what a Democrat would perceive as a logical routing to a goal. In this case a meeting with Putin. That makes this IMO projection.
Trump on the other hand had he wanted to meet with Putin would never have taken a route such as described as this would disallow him the upper hand from the beginning. Groveling is not a preferred means to an end.
It certainly also doesn't match his personality. This sounds more like some young guy wanting to impress higher ups in a Presidential campaign - if this conversation even took place at all.