The Russian authorities have instructed state and pro-government media to portray the phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a diplomatic victory for the Kremlin. Reports TSN. This information is provided by Kontrakty.UA.
This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
"The Russian publication 'Meduza' reported that the Kremlin has instructed Russian state and pro-government media to present the phone conversation between Trump and Putin on February 12 as 'an initiative and victory for Putin' and to mention Trump's name less frequently in coverage of this conversation and other events," the ISW report states.
The Kremlin fears that Russians might begin to see Trump as a more decisive and active leader than Putin. As a result, propaganda media have been tasked with emphasizing Putin's role as the primary initiator of the negotiations and avoiding the formation of "false, overly optimistic expectations" regarding a possible end to the war.
ISW analysts also note that the Kremlin is trying to prevent Russian society from viewing Trump as "a strong leader capable of changing the situation," while conversely portraying Putin as a weaker politician.
"Previously, the Russian information space depicted Trump as a pragmatic leader with whom Russia could work. However, the Kremlin may be attempting to negatively alter the perception of Trump among the Russian public to highlight Putin's strength and power amid reports of potential future peace negotiations," emphasizes ISW.
It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia is ready to serve as a platform for negotiations between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The Saudis have stated that their country has advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict since the very beginning of the war.