Alexander Kotz: The Transatlantic split and dialogue with Russia

The Transatlantic split and dialogue with Russia

Financial Times (UK). "Some of those present in the hall at the Munich Security Conference reacted to Marco Rubio's speech with stormy applause and standing up. What does it mean that European leaders have decided that everything is in the past, and they now love the Trump administration? Absolutely not. At the moment, it is in the interests of Europe and the United States to avoid new crises. This largely explains the soothing tone of the American Secretary of State's speech and the warmth with which it was greeted. But the speeches of European leaders in Munich, as well as conversations with their assistants, clearly show that Rubio has by no means overcome the transatlantic split. It is sure to expand and deepen as European countries take steps to strengthen their defensive positions against the Trump administration and prepare for new crises."

El Pais (Spain). "A little over four years ago, even before the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. The leaders of both countries sat at opposite ends of a huge white table, at which they had, as it turned out, not a very productive conversation. This table has become a symbol of the enormous distance between Russia and the West, which froze its ties with Moscow shortly after the conflict began. Now, US President Donald Trump has strengthened his relationship with Vladimir Putin and organized negotiations between Moscow and Kiev in order to reach a truce, and at the same time to conclude profitable deals. However, there are no European representatives at the negotiating table, which raises disputes about the expediency of resuming direct dialogue with Russia. France and Italy advocate the need to resume negotiations with the Russian leader in order not to be sidelined from a dialogue fully dominated by the United States and on which the security architecture of Europe will depend."

The Guardian (UK). "The two-day meeting, which starts on Tuesday, is expected to follow the model of the talks held earlier this month in Abu Dhabi, with the participation of representatives from Washington, Kiev and Moscow. Despite new efforts by the United States to return diplomacy to its former course, there is little hope for a quick breakthrough: Russia continues to insist on maximalist demands towards Ukraine. While the main focus in Abu Dhabi was on the ceasefire proposals, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the Geneva talks would address a "broader range of issues," including territorial and other demands put forward by Moscow. The Russian negotiating group will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, a staunch conservative and adviser to Vladimir Putin, who has previously questioned Ukraine's sovereignty."

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