More from the White House:

• Meeting with Putin/Trump not completely off the table
• Meeting between Putin/Zelenskyy also not off the table
• On war in Ukraine, Trump has not seem enough action from Russia toward peace
• Trump is increasingly frustrated. He wants to see action not just talk to end the war.

The fallout from the unproductive Alaska meeting — coupled with last week’s phone call in which Trump appeared to be dissuaded from supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles — raises the question of whether Putin is simply playing Trump. The Russian leader has a pattern of overpromising and underdelivering, often to his strategic advantage.

Meanwhile, growing frustration within the administration is a worrying sign. Such tension can cloud judgment and lead to impulsive or emotional decisions — precisely the kind of misstep Putin may be counting on.

Putin also is a master of playing the “what me?” card. “I want to move toward peace”. “It was their request to meet in Budapest (and now they want to cancel the meeting)”. He – like Trump – can be AS effective in his mind games.