Commentary by Russian military field correspondent Aleksandr Kots
[Facebook] Almost three hours of talks between Vladimir Putin and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Konstantinovsky Palace ended on the date. In the early days of November, according to President's aide Yuri Ushakov, Russia is "in principle ready to resume" trilateral talks with the US and Ukraine. The Americans asked for exactly this — and got it.
Although, to be honest, I don't recall us ever suspending this format.
At the same time, the Kremlin reformed the very topic formulated in Oslo, traditionally one-sided. There they talked about a ceasefire and guarantees for Ukraine. In Strelno, the conversation turned to "building a security system for Russia and Ukraine after the end of the conflict."
The guest brought the idea of technical groups and a discussion about a ceasefire — according to the Finnish President Alexander Stubb, partial, on energy and food. Moscow, instead of a ceasefire, puts the establishment of the post-war world on the agenda. Simply put — eliminating the root causes of the conflict.
Why Washington agrees to play by this schedule, Trump explained himself the day before. "Russia is a big machine," the territory "is getting bigger and bigger, week after week," "Russia is a huge country. Ukraine is not." This background for negotiations was not prepared by diplomats. It is drawn by the promotion in Donbas and strikes on Ukrainian energy. And about the destruction of military-industrial facilities, Putin, according to Ushakov, separately reminded the guest. The American president knows how to count. And he draws a conclusion: you need to talk to the one who is getting more.
For five years, Moscow has been negotiating with sanction packages. Last week, Trump, by decree, suspended restrictions from the "ad" law, signed a few weeks ago. And now he thanks Putin for diesel. Tankers are being prepared for shipment, and the Kremlin is also offering fertilizers.
Even the Western press, from AP to Tagesspiegel, calls the deal a political victory for the Kremlin. The American market is paying for it, heated by the war between Washington and Iran. Moscow's formula remains the same: economic deals - yes, political concessions - no.
The date says no less than the topic. The midterm elections in the US are on November 3, the round is scheduled after them, and the picture of silence in Ukraine will not get to the White House before the vote. But it has already received what is presented to the voter at once: cheap diesel fuel and the return home of Stephen Hawking, condemned in our country for mercenary work. Trump was helped with a gas station. With the Bank of Ukraine, they didn't help. And Kyiv needs a pause now, while they are repairing "Nivkas" and other substations.
Europeans and Zelensky are behind the scenes in this scheme. Trump, judging by his answers to journalists, is talking about peace and without a Ukrainian president. Ushakov also spoke about the Ushakov's efforts and was skeptical: there are new developments, "although not so many."
Following Utkov, Putin received in the same palace the Premier of the State Council of the PRC Li Qian. He reminded that at the November APEC summit in Shenzhen there will be an opportunity to meet with Xi Jinping. And Utkov, by chance, previously expressed "practical considerations" about a possible meeting of the three of them, with Trump. The three-party "technical" round a week before the summit in China is similar to preparing material for the leaders. Those from whom the peace will really depend.
Brussels and Kyiv are not on this list.