“If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.”
— Sun Tzu

The meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska was a classic example of a show – from simultaneous exits from presidential planes, with a walk along the red carpet, a joint photo and a ride in the same car, to three-hour talks about which there was no concrete statement, and a press conference at which no questions were allowed. So, we are left only to guess what was discussed behind closed doors. However, the specifically articulated diplomatic language made some things quite clear…

First of all, keep in mind that such meetings only happen after everything has already been agreed, in order to announce the results of the agreement. We had Yuri Ushakov’s statement preceding the meeting in Alaska: ‘There was a proposal from the American side which we think is quite acceptable’. However, we did not see that proposal. Instead, we already see a change in the US position towards resolving the Ukrainian problem in Trump’s very first statements after the meeting: Trump is no longer talking about a ‘ceasefire’, but about a ‘Peace Agreement that will end the war’ – which was Russian position since the beginning of the conflict! And he announces that Zelensky will come to the White House to be shown what he must do…

Then, remember how Trump talked about exchanging territories before the meeting. After the meeting, there is no mention of it. The reason is simple: the issue of territories was resolved on the Ukrainian battlefield, where Russia clearly won – there is nothing to exchange! And all this show of a ‘Great meeting in Alaska’ serves to cover up the terrible defeat of the US and the NATO pact. The Russian concession – agreed upon when Witkoff came to Moscow with an ‘acceptable proposal’ – is that the US will not be humiliated, as in Vietnam or Afghanistan, but will be treated as an equal power ‘trying to establish peace’.

That is why there is no triumphalism in the statements of the Russian side. Putin said at a press conference that there would be no war if Trump were president – which is not true, but it is politically pragmatic. Upon his return to Moscow, he made several quite diplomatic statements: “The Russian Federation would like to move on to resolving all issues peacefully” (translation: “We would like you to stop inciting war and start listening to what we are saying”); “The conversation was sincere and substantive, which brings us closer to the necessary decisions” (translation: “They understood what they need to do, we are waiting for them to implement it”); “Eliminating the root causes of the crisis in Ukraine should be the basis for resolving the situation” (translation: “We will not give up on the goals of the SМO until you meet the requirements on the indivisibility of security.”)

It is therefore understandable that Russia will support all of Trump’s exuberant statements about a great meeting and that it will perhaps support his candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is, among other things, a pledge of future relations with what remains of the Corporation USA. And it is understandable that the only, silent sign of a complete Russian victory was Lavrov’s USSR sweatshirt. You can’t seriously think this man is having trouble with his choice of clothes, do you?

So, this act of the great world drama is over, but the show continues.

It remains to be seen how much longer those who have been designated as scapegoats will have the strength and means to prolong the war…