A revolutionary editorial by journalist Andrei Kolesnikov critiques the enthusiastic tone of Russian media and politicians, stating, „Any result that doesn’t conclude the loss of lives is a dead end.”
– The journalist contends that in Alaska, leaders didn’t seek to reduce international tensions. „On the contrary: Putin-Trump relations keep worsening global tensions.”
– Putin has cast Trump as the figure responsible for peace while aligning himself with war.
Andrei Kolesnikov, Kremlin correspondent for Kommersant, visited Alaska with the official press group from Moscow. His reporting from Alaska had an ironic flair, peaking after the inconclusive meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Kolesnikov’s editorial was published in Novaya Gazeta, the exile publication of 2021 Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Dmitri Muratov.
„The gathering in Alaska stands out as one of the most enigmatic and, to be honest, pointless occurrences in global diplomacy,” Kolesnikov remarked in Novaya Gazeta. At the same time, Donald Trump disclosed that Vladimir Putin rejected a ceasefire and desires a peace treaty before stopping the conflict.
„Reverse Negotiations”
„The discomfort of this action, replete with body language and motions, was not just due to the clear awkwardness in front of world leaders and the public expecting, if not peace, at least the establishment of approaches and foundations for it.”
The journalist asserts the meeting relied heavily on the „stage performance” of the two presidents instead of expert solutions, explaining the absence of outcomes.
„The issue resides in the structure and logic of the Anchorage meeting: not the experts’ deliberation and diligent document preparation first, even if merely a joint communiqué, followed by firm handshakes and solemn proclamations, but the opposite. Initially symbolic camaraderie and handshakes, and then… nothing.”
„These constitute ‘reverse negotiations,’ devoid of any assurance of a mutual document or substantial decision.”
Putin and the Stalin Prize
„A colossal bubble of expectations has burst. The public expected nothing short of peace. Peace did not materialize. Not even the so-called unjust one,” the journalist comments.
„Trump will not attain the Nobel Peace Prize, but Putin might bestow upon himself the Stalin Prize!”
The journalist perceives no transformation in the relations between the two nations: „If Trump departs, everything could shift to hostility. But even under Trump, the purportedly improved relations might not evolve into actual decisions and ‘agreements.'”
„Putin-Trump relations escalate international tensions”
„Undoubtedly, it’s not about reducing international tensions, as was observed with the Brezhnev-Nixon ‘agreement.’ Quite the opposite: Putin-Trump relations exacerbate global tensions.”
What will be the outcome of the next crime photos presented to President Trump by Melania?
„But does Putin care?” the article queries. „Putin disregards the cost of conflict, both human and financial, and is prepared to persist with the so-called special operation format until exhaustion.”
„However, in his perspective, following the Alaska meeting, he accomplished his primary objective: sustaining relations with Trump, avoiding even additional sanctions, and obtaining leniency for further military advancement, perpetuating military actions.”
„Putin triumphed at least until Trump’s next emotional flare-up and mental change. And what if Melania once again shows her husband alarming photos, provoking the American president into becoming ‘very angry’ and altering his stance toward Putin?”
Putin has orchestrated a narrative wherein people view Trump as the harbinger of peace and himself as the figure of war.
„The public may be disheartened by yet another setback in their perpetually inflated expectations of peace but will regard it as usual. Primarily disappointed in Trump—after all, he was expected to deliver peace. Putin is accountable for the special operation, and the American president for peace.”
„Nonetheless, there’s a silver lining for the Russian populace: now we are somewhat friends with America, and that’s positive.”
„So what’s the conclusion? Instead of laying the groundwork for peace, a red carpet was unfurled leading to a dead end. Because anything that doesn’t conclude the loss of lives is a dead end.”
„Both parties in Alaska ensured that the status quo remained intact, that the familiar pattern of confrontation, which has been actively ongoing for three and a half years and semi-actively since 2014, persists. To paraphrase astronaut Neil Armstrong: Putin’s minor victory is humanity’s significant failure,” the article wraps up.
