Trump hopes to flatter Putin into negotiating on Ukraine, experts say

Former US President Donald Trump has been making overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin in an attempt to negotiate a deal on Ukraine. Trump's diplomatic efforts have included calling Putin a "humanitarian" and making other flattering comments about the Russian leader.

Trump's diplomatic team has been in contact with Russian officials, with some reports suggesting that they have been discussing potential concessions in exchange for a ceasefire in Ukraine. However, it is unclear whether these efforts will be successful in convincing Putin to negotiate.

Experts say that Trump's approach is unlikely to be effective in persuading Putin to strike a deal. "The problem is that Putin is not interested in negotiating," said one expert.

"He's more interested in maintaining his power and influence in Ukraine." Trump's diplomatic efforts have been criticized by some as being overly flattering and lacking in substance.

"It's a classic case of trying to buy influence," said another expert. "But Putin is not interested in being bought."

Despite the skepticism, Trump remains optimistic that his efforts will pay off. "I think we can make a great deal with Putin," he said in a recent interview.

"He's a very smart guy, and I think we can work something out." The US government has been critical of Trump's approach, with some officials expressing concerns that it could embolden Putin's aggressive behavior in Ukraine.

"We need to take a more robust approach to dealing with Russia," said one official. "Flattery is not going to work."

Trump's diplomatic efforts have also been criticized by some as being inconsistent with US policy on Ukraine. "It's a contradiction to our stated policy of supporting Ukraine's sovereignty," said another expert.

"But Trump seems to be willing to put his own interests ahead of US policy."