Kalibrs at the negotiating table

I think that diplomacy as such has died in Russia. It was replaced by naked, brutal propaganda. And Lavrov, this "sad horse" who galloped away from the G20 summit in Bali, plays the role of Solovyov rather than the head of the foreign policy department.

After all, when did Russia have diplomacy? Were there staff diplomats and not employees of the KGB or FSB? Never. There was a "MFA" screen, and behind it - the same rapists, thugs, as in Bucha, only wearing tuxedos and ties. What was called negotiations in Moscow usually looked like blackmail, violence, threats of a "second world army", energy pressure or nuclear intimidation. That's all diplomacy…

Usually, issues were "solved" behind closed doors, without extra ears and eyes, taking into account the "Russian tradition" of pouring "agreements" with an incredible amount of alcohol.

“What was called negotiations in Moscow was usually similar to blackmail, violence, threats of the "second army of the world", energy pressure or nuclear intimidation. That's all diplomacy…”

Russia has never acted as an equal among equals in the negotiations. It put on a mask of civility or even submissiveness only to please its counterparts. Let's recall the famous secret protocols to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, as a result of which the world was engulfed by World War II, and the iron curtain of communist totalitarianism fell over almost half of Europe.

Therefore, when Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov in response to the Ukrainian proposal for "public negotiations" shrugs his shoulders, it should not be surprising. Russia really does not know what "public negotiations" are, as it only knows Byzantinism, intrigues kneaded in corruption, and the language of power. “It's hard to imagine public negotiations at all... There are no such negotiations. And even more public negotiations to such an extent,” Peskov said, perhaps not realizing that he is uttering nonsense in the conditions of a digital, information society, where everything secret becomes public. 

“Russia really does not know what "public negotiations" are, it only knows Byzantinism, intrigues kneaded in corruption, and the language of force”

The Kremlin spokesman's cognitive dissonance is exacerbated by the desire of the Kremlin chief to sit down at the negotiating table after all. In order to gain time to restore the tattered "liberators" in Ukraine, to gather new forces for more powerful strikes. That is why unsolicited confessions "fly out" of Peskov's mouth that Russia is trying to break Ukrainian will with missile strikes and force Kyiv to go to negotiations. In which, of course, Moscow will again act from a position of strength. “The reluctance of the Ukrainian side to solve the problem, to enter into negotiations, and even more so, the actions of the Ukrainian side to abandon the agreed understanding of the text and so on, these are all the consequences,” Peskov said, answering a direct question about missile strikes on civilian infrastructure. Apparently, Putin still hasn't understood that every missile that hits the target only strengthens the reluctance of Ukrainians to talk to savages and respond with blows to blows.

“The civilized West should also take off the "white gloves" and talk to Putin with "gunboat diplomacy". Because this man understands exactly this kind of language, not veiled messages and metaphors wrapped in diplomatic etiquette.”

I once wrote that the civilized West should also take off its "white gloves" and talk to Putin with "gunboat diplomacy." Because this man understands exactly this kind of language from half a word, not veiled messages and metaphors wrapped in diplomatic etiquette.

Of course, the allies are wary of the escalation of the conflict, its expansion beyond the borders of Ukraine, but one should not show weakness when the bloody dictator raises the stakes. How it happened in the situation with a missile attack on Poland. They should remember Nietzsche, who very aptly outlined the essence of diplomacy: “Diplomacy is to pet the dog until the muzzle is ready.”

Putin is a player, and his power and his life are at stake for this party. He is well aware that with the current development of the situation at the front, the devastating effect of international sanctions, centrifugal movements in the sub-empire itself, the finale will be catastrophic.  Perhaps the verdict of the international tribunal will be the best option for the self-confident "tsar". And the Hague verdict in the MH17 case is a telling wake-up call not only for those involved in the case, but also for the main customer.

Putin knows that his "anti-Western coalition" is a mirage. China? It is unlikely that he is just waiting for the fall of the "cob on clay legs".  Iran? The regime of the ayatollah is not eternal, and this was evidenced by the mass riots in the country. Zimbabwe?..

As for Moscow's "missile diplomacy", I think that after the provocations in Poland, Ukraine will receive more powerful air defense equipment and in the appropriate quantity. And the Ukrainians will endure the winter with all their might, supporting the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which are de-occupying the lands seized by Putin. When HIMARS, NASAMS and Patriot are stationed at Khutor Mikhailivsky (border railway station in Ukraine’s Sumy region - ed.) , then we will talk.  Publicly…

About the author. Ihor Hulyk is a journalist, Editor-in-Chief of the Espreso.West website. 

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.