Charles Maines

Trump, in brief comments to Journalist Sunday, referred to the corruption scandal as a little problem.

Rubio didn't mention it at all.

Yeah, you know, he arrives later today and he'll meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin either tonight or tomorrow.

But Witkoff has his own baggage.

You know, a recently leaked transcript of an audio recording reported by Bloomberg News certainly appeared to show Witkoff actively coaching the Kremlin on how to engage with Trump and working with them to incorporate key Russian talking points into the original draft of the peace plan.

You know, that said, Trump has dismissed this as basically deal-making 101.

And Putin also defended Witkoff, saying, yeah, he's a polite and intelligent guy who tried to work with us.

And wouldn't it be strange if he'd come here and just insulted us and expected to get anything done?

It's a good question, you know, because Putin, it seems, is trying to tempt the U.S.

into upping the pressure on Ukraine to accept a deal.

On Friday, he offered an immediate end to hostilities if Ukraine withdraws from territory Moscow claims, which may sound appealing if you ignore that it's Ukrainian land that Russia hasn't been able to seize in more than three years of fighting, although Putin argues it's just a matter of time.

Meanwhile, Russia has been tempting the U.S.

in other ways.

Putin's negotiators, they constantly talk about how much money the U.S.

could make in Russia once the war ends and sanctions are lifted.

which is why some of these statements out of Florida were interesting to hear.

You know, they suggest the U.S.

now sees prosperity, business deals as key to a lasting peace.

The question is, to what degree are they seen as a substitute for Western security guarantees for Ukraine that Kiev has always sought and Moscow has always rejected?

Thank you.