From the cited article ...

... Grassley pushed Trump to institute sanctions on Russia -- which Trump has previously threatened to do if they didn't come to the negotiating table on the war -- and added that Russia is "playing America as a patsy." ...

Well, yeah.

That's not been obvious?

But, I'd rephrase that as Russia is ~playing its Pres Trump sock puppet as a patsy.~

Pres Putin seems to know the triggers of Pres Trump to get him to do what Pres Putin wants Pres Trump to do.

@#4

My only significant change to your comment would be ...

Putin ignores trump.

-- to --

Pres Putin knows how to manipulate and use Pres Trump.