I think attacking pragmatists for being pragmatic should be a non-starter.

I get that tRump, per se, can't be trusted, but there are mechanisms beyond tRump's simple say-so.

Better to take half and save your country. I think he knows Fat Orange will try to screw him over but it's worth a shot.

except someone has seemingly got through to King Carbuncle that war reparations were inappropriate. If it's anything like one of the early deals (and I hope it is), it's a win-win,not only for the things Rehi stated but also because Ukraine isn't capable of extracting their resources while the US can supply equipment and training. Ukraine gets good jobs and shares in the profit. It seems we get first dibs on the minerals, the most important of which is titanium (sorry, Artur). Having access to a reasonably large deposit will further reduce any dependence on China.

It also does give the US a compelling stake in stopping any Russian advance and denying them the land grab Putin so clearly wants. There is no way to extract any of the stuff we want if bullets and artillery are flying around. My gut says The Rotted Pumpkin will attempt a dirty deal to recognize Russian ownership of Crimea. It's a deal that won't last but might be enough of a sop to Russian pride to stop the shooting until Putin is dead and gone to dust.

What are Trump and Putin up to?

They are all pulling each other's chain somewhere in each agreement.