Chuck Todd predicted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to “manipulate” President Donald Trump will backfire and are a “huge miscalculation” as peace with Ukraine remains under negotiation.

On The Chuck ToddCast, Todd broke down his argument for what Putin’s “big mistake” has been in dealing with Trump since their Alaska summit that ended without a ceasefire deal. Trump has since met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and said he is negotiating a long-term peace deal.

According to Todd, Putin has a “low regard” for Trump, arguing the Russian leader was playing Trump when he commented on mail-in voting being unreliable during their meeting.

“He pays him lip service, right? He tells Trump what he wants to hear about mail-in voting,” Todd said.

The former Meet the Press anchor added that what the president really wants is for Putin to admit he would have never invaded Ukraine with Trump in office, a win that Todd noted Putin never fully gave Trump.

“That is total disrespect by Putin, right? It totally should undermine the idea that Putin wouldn’t have launched this invasion of Ukraine had Trump been president,” Todd said.

Putin’s “big mistake,” he argued, is thinking that “lip service” without actual action will be enough for Trump.

“I think he’s miscalculating,” he said.

Todd argued Putin should be playing into Trump’s desire to “enhance” his reputation.

“To not enhance his reputation at a time when he’s desperate to enhance it, not to help him get his ceasefire, get his peace prize, give him more credibility with the west with a guy that you have influence,” he said, “really seems to be a mistake on Putin’s part.”

Watch above via The Chuck ToddCast.

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