[insane_dreamer]

The US just decided to negotiate with Putin directly, leaving Europe out of it even though they're the ones affected by the Russia-Ukraine war, not the US.

And Vance explicitly said that Russia can't be expected to go back to the pre-war borders. In other words, Russia gets what they want (Donbas).

[Sabinus]

Trump also ruled out plenty of (admittedly high risk) interventions and solutions before the negotiations.

Why would he make concessions for nothing in return? I thought he was meant to be a great negotiator and businessman.

[hakfoo]

The perceived return could be timing and presentation.

If he has to spend the rest of his term negotiating back and forth over which flag flies over a particular outhouse in Western Crimea, he may not see that as being a successful deal-maker.

Being able to say "we got buy-in for our first proposal, took me four days to end the conflict" fits his image.