Russian President Vladimir Putin has always been a master manipulator, and his latest maneuvering with President Trump underscores just how adept he is at bending situations to his advantage. The recent phone call between the two leaders, ostensibly aimed at finding a pathway to peace in Ukraine, ended up showcasing Putin’s ability to outmaneuver Trump while extracting concessions without giving up anything of substance. From the outset, Putin set the tone by making Trump wait for more than an hour before taking his call. The delay, during which Putin was engaged in a televised conference with Russian business leaders, was no accident. It was a calculated power play, reinforcing his dominance not just over Trump but also for domestic audiences in Russia.

The event echoed a similar humiliation meted out to Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, who was reportedly made to wait eight hours before meeting with Putin in Moscow. These theatrics serve a clear purpose: sending the message that Putin is in control, setting the terms of engagement on his own timeline. Once the conversation did begin, Putin swiftly demonstrated his tactical edge. While Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had reportedly pushed for a full ceasefire, Putin offered only a limited pause on attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure – a far cry from what Trump had likely envisioned. Even this half-measure was framed ambiguously, with the Kremlin stating the pause would apply solely to energy infrastructure, while the White House suggested it encompassed broader infrastructure.

Given Russia’s track record of interpreting agreements to suit its interests, there’s little doubt that Moscow will stick to its........

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