After months of speculation about what, specifically, the White House had in mind to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, the broad strokes of the administration’s plan came into focus this week. For those eager to assess the proposal, that was the good news.

The bad news is that the plan is a one-sided absurdity. If Donald Trump’s approach were implemented, Russia would get to keep the Ukrainian land it has seized by force — an extraordinary reward for launching an unprovoked invasion of its neighbor — while Ukraine would be prohibited from joining NATO, further cementing one of Moscow’s principal goals.

One NATO official, when asked for a reaction to the plan, replied, “Did Putin write this for him?”

A day later, a reporter asked the American president what concessions Russia would have to make as part of the diplomatic process. Trump replied, “Stopping the war. Stopping taking the whole country. Pretty big concession.”

Let’s take stock. Under the administration’s preferred approach to resolving the crisis, Russian officials get to keep the parts of a foreign country they have taken by force, while also ensuring that their neighbor does not join the NATO alliance.

Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, get to keep some of what’s left of their own country, while receiving only vague security assurances from an ostensible ally that now appears to be aligned with Russia.

This, the world is supposed to believe, is a “fair” compromise. As part of this agreement, Russia gives up nothing — except its ambition to acquire the entirety of a neighboring country by force, which obviously is not a “concession” by any sane definition of the word.

A couple of days ago, Russia — the country that the American president keeps claiming is committed to peace — launched one of its most devastating bombardments on Ukraine’s major cities since the war began. Soon after, Trump published a pitiful message to his social media platform, claiming he was “not happy” with the latest military offensive.

“Vladimir, STOP!” the Republican added.

This generated a new round of coverage about Trump expressing rare disagreement with Moscow. But let’s not forget recent history: Since his second inaugural, Trump has made similar gestures multiple times, even threatening possible sanctions, and in each instance, the American president has followed through with nothing — except new rewards for the Putin regime.

Those inclined to believe that Trump might finally be prepared to respond to Putin with a stiffened spine should remember a phrase that’s often repeated within Team Maddow: Watch what they do, not what they say.