The upcoming meeting between dictator Putin and the new U.S. President Donald Trump will be a victory for the Kremlin. TSN reports. This information is provided by Kontrakty.UA.
Ukrainian journalist Vitaliy Portnikov expressed this opinion in an interview with "Radio Liberty."
"I don't believe that Putin has changed his position by agreeing to meet with the U.S. president. Putin has never declined a meeting with a U.S. president. It was the previous U.S. president, Joe Biden, who refused any contact with Putin after Russia's significant attack on Ukraine," the journalist states.
Portnikov reminded that prior to the full-scale invasion, Biden had several contacts with Putin, urging him not to make this mistake. However, Putin disregarded these warnings. Following this, a decision was made at the highest level in the White House that all high-level contacts between presidents and other senior officials would cease until Russia stops its aggressive actions against Ukraine.
"So, the readiness of the new American president to meet with Putin while the war is ongoing is not a change in position, but rather an unconditional diplomatic victory for the Kremlin. Moscow is thus demonstrating that attempts to isolate Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine have failed," the journalist explains.
He noted that Russia has managed to maintain its diplomatic positions in its contacts with Global South countries. For instance, just recently, Putin hosted leaders of BRICS member states in Kazan.
"Now we see that other leaders who adhere to a policy of neutrality continue to engage with him, both within BRICS and outside of it. However, of course, Putin lacks contacts with Western leaders. That’s why he has been so painfully concerned about the absence of Russian-American summits," Portnikov points out.
The journalist clarified that for the American administration, isolating Russia from the West was a significant tool of pressure. In contrast, Donald Trump believes that it is not a tool of pressure.
"But Putin does not appear to be someone who has changed his position. He seems to be someone who has achieved an important diplomatic victory. And he doesn't even initiate the meeting. He believes that Trump has publicly asked him for a meeting," Vitaliy Portnikov concluded.
Earlier, it was reported that Trump and Putin are preparing for a phone conversation that is likely to precede an in-person meeting.