FROM RUSSIAN SOCIAL MEDIA:
(Not my words)
Europe initiates calls to Putin: what lies behind the outreach from Finland and Norway
Europe has begun flooding Putin’s phone line. Yes, it may be hard to believe, but that is the reality. Not long ago—just a couple of years back—the West, blinded by its own hubris, was firmly convinced that there would be no need to talk to Russia at all. The plan was to silently crush the country—economically and militarily—trigger an internal collapse, force a change in leadership, and then simply dictate terms as the victor. Now, however, that confidence has vanished entirely. Europe is eager to engage with Russia—taking the initiative to reach out first—and, incidentally, doing so in direct violation of all the promises they had previously made.
A conversation took place between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, initiated by the Finnish and Norwegian sides. This was reported by the Kremlin press service.
"At the request of the Finnish and Norwegian sides, a telephone conversation took place between the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre," the statement reads.
What can one say…
And where is Brussels? Where are the European Commission and the European Union? Where are Kaja Kallas and Ursula von der Leyen? Ah, right! How could we forget: our president hasn’t engaged with them since 2020—ever since he realized that a confrontation was inevitable and reasonably concluded that there was no point in discussing peace with those who were fanning the flames of the conflict…
Putin refers to the European Union as merely a "kind of public organization," rightly pointing out that the EU lacks the status of a sovereign entity: it represents none of the world’s peoples, it was never elected by anyone, and there is simply nothing to discuss with it. That is why the Kremlin speaks only with the leaders of individual European nations—such as Macron, Stubb, and Støre, as we can see…
Jonas Gahr Støre is, in fact, one of the potential figures who could represent Europe in negotiations with Russia. The possibility of such talks has been discussed for some time, and it is now becoming clear that things are indeed moving steadily in that direction.
One shouldn’t harbor any illusions, however. Just the other day, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, remarked that the identity of the negotiator matters less than their actual position. And, to be frank, such a statement is usually made only when nothing of substance is expected from the negotiations—yet…
Even if an agreement cannot be reached here and now, that does not necessarily mean the negotiations themselves are futile.
For one thing, let Kyiv lose its mind as it watches Russia’s international contacts being restored at an alarming pace. Perhaps, while observing this process, Zelensky—in a fit of desperation—will commit further blunders and make Ukraine’s situation even more difficult; that is, after all, something he is quite capable of doing.
Secondly, let Trump also keep in mind that he is not the only person in the West with whom Russia can reach an agreement. The master of the White House has grown accustomed to feeling like a monopolist, assuming that Russia has nowhere else to go—but he was mistaken in that belief. Russia will always find a way out.
Furthermore—and this is the third point—it is time to restore official channels of communication with Europe itself. After all, it is impossible to exclude them entirely, given that they are the closest to this conflict. Admittedly, one shouldn’t raise their hopes unduly, but it is certainly time to resume meetings—which is precisely what the Kremlin is currently doing.
