How can Russia ever be trusted?

A deal seems to be emerging in the Russia/Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul. But the deal sounds to me like cloud cuckoo land. Who is fooling whom? The Russians are saying they will drastically reduce attacks on Kyiv as part of the peace offer. That isn't a peace deal and anyway who can trust the Russians to do what they say they will do? And what on earth is Putin's strategy? If, as is being claimed, the main focus of his invasion force will now be on eastern Ukraine in the Donbas region why didn't they do that in the first place instead of destroying Mariupol and attempt to put Kyiv under siege? It makes no sense. Russia has lost thousands of troops, tanks and helicopters and a landing ship and for what? Just to show they can do it? It has achieved nothing except give Russia pariah status in the world. Putin is not interested in peace. He didn't order his troops into Ukraine in order to force the Kyiv government into a peace deal. He wanted subjugation, he wanted Ukraine to be absorbed into Russia. But he won't get any of that if there is a peace settlement. That's good for the rest of us and good for Ukraine of course but it begs the question: what is Putin up to? Is he really, after just one month of fighting, albeit with hardly any progress, now ready to sue for peace? The former KGB officer and president until 2036 is happy to do a deal with ZelenskY? Really? I just don't believe it. He sent his assassins to kill Zelensky. This is Putin, stoney-faced Putin! He is not a peace-deal type. So watch out Zelensky. Russia is losing, this peace-talk stuff is all part of a devious Putin plot. Of that I am sure.