Subject: Re: Deal framework for Ukraine/Russia
Realistically, the Russians aren't giving back the Crimea. Why the opening bid isn't a return to pre-war borders is not clear either.

Is it really not clear?

Trump doesn't care about the outcome of this war. He doesn't care if it ends in a way that's just, or deters future aggression by Russia (or other states who might want to try to seize territory by military force), or helps Ukraine. He just wants it to end. And quickly, since he strongly suggested in the campaign he could end it quickly.

So he put forward a proposal that gives Russia nearly everything that Putin wants. He feels he has more leverage to force Ukraine to accept an unfair deal than to force Russia to accept a fair one. It would take a lot of effort - and time - to negotiate if the opening bid included a return to pre-war borders, so he's pre-emptively giving it up.