Nonsense!
Trump's approach to Putin is so Trump. He usually praises everyone to get what he wants. That is a tactic, and does not reflect his endorsement of anyone.
I am sure Trump considers Putin to be an evil man, who has managed to back himself in a corner, and would gladly squander the young men of Russia, and now North Korea too, too preserve his power. Trump has clearly made it known his abhorrence of war and killing. So, if he has to talk nicely to an evil POS like Putin, I do not have a problem with that. As the old saying goes, you get more with honey than you do with vinegar.
The person that is the enigma is Zelinsky. He wants to keep changing his mind on what is acceptable, and it is complicating the effort our government is making.
The facts are plain to see. Putin is no Hitler. And the present day Russian military is a joke, to put it politely. A major joke. 1940s Germany would easily role over Russia today. The Russian military is poorly trained, and apparently poorly equipped. And Russia does not have the military industrial complex nor the money to wage war against humanity for a prolonged period of time. I have seen quite a few presentations that Russia will be financially on its back sometime this fall. If that is the case, all Trump need do is wait Putin out. Same for Zelinsky. Russia has ordered up 160,000 more recruits for its meat grinder of a military. How many of those wen will die in the first few weeks of being in theater?
Putin is a fool not to take Trump up on his generous stance to end the war. Believe me, Trump will not remain generous much longer.