Joe Biden on Tuesday evening called Vladimir Putin and offered to organize a meeting on the territory of some third neutral country, which has yet to be determined.
Experts put forward versions of what the unexpected initiative of the U.S. president means, and who outplays whom amid rising tensions around Ukraine and NATO exercises on the Russian borders.
"You know, I wouldn't have high hopes for a call and a possible meeting between Biden and Putin. The U.S. military, even though they represent them as fools, are smart and educated people with serious experience and enormous resources. Well, they're going to freeze some aggravation, throw a couple of gingerbread for our elite. And honey, no one removes questions on the North Stream. Unconventional hybrid war as it goes, and goes. Yes, they will bargain a little in Ukraine. However, this will not fundamentally change anything. But among our political elite there may be quite a lot of those who enthusiastically accept the flirting signals of sleepy Joe," military expert Vladimir Orlov shares his fears.
Publicist Egor Holmogorov takes a different opinion. He believes that the Kremlin gave the Americans a convincing answer in the game of raising the stakes around Ukraine. "Putin seems to have overtheped, and Biden blinked first. The question is, will it give anything to the Russians? .. Obviously, there is a consensus in Russian society on Ukraine as clear as it once was on Crimea. And the essence of this consensus: non licet vos esse," Holmogorov writes.
"The meeting itself, if it takes place, will take place against the background of sabre-rattling in the Ukrainian direction, as well as after Biden's statements that Putin is a murderer, as well as "draining" Biden from the topic of the debate. So the debate is quite possible and will be, but behind closed doors. The probability of a "Big Deal" is, of course, minimal. But, as is often the case during the Cold Wars, separate framework arrangements are quite possible," predicts military expert Boris Rozhin.
"Discharges are not expected, the U.S. will not reduce hostility to Russia, but the meeting of the presidents of the two nuclear powers is always important for the fate of the world," - confirms Senator Alexey Pushkov.
Russian political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov does not rule out that the meeting between Putin and Biden risks turning into a scandal.
"The news about the upcoming (sort of) meeting between Biden and Putin in neutral territory (apparently again in Helsinki) has caused a sense of relief among many - too loud in recent days they have been sabre-rattling under the appropriate conversations. And the intention to discuss strategic stability seems to return to the good old days of the Cold War - detente. But there are no good old in the yard, so the summit, resembling the old ones, in content may not be so.
Let's recall the recent meeting in Alaska of the U.S. and Chinese delegations, which was supposed to be familiarity and some new beginning after the nervousness of the Trump era. Instead of at least superficial appeasement - a public scandal with a demonstration of intransigence, deep mutual displeasure. Fixing insurmountable differences that are presented as ideological, at least on the American side. Yes, in fact, and China about the same - principles do not trade, teachings do not listen.
It seems very strange for a first date, but it's a long way to look. If we assume that the purpose of the Biden administration is not really normalization with China, but the mobilization of the West in the usual form of the Cold War, then everything is logical. They came to fix the ideological framework, the call to the confused allies - to put aside doubts, do as I do. If we project all this on Russia, we can expect a meeting with the same skirmishes and with the same purpose. We are not afraid of Putin, Russia is a paper tiger, our strength is in our beliefs. The whole set of claims and promises about "the price that will have to pay" will be salvo. For everyone to see.
In other words, we think from old memory that the meeting, especially at the highest level, is to reduce tension and level relations. But why is the opposite impossible? Demonstration of superiority and confidence, especially for your own audience, which should be encouraged. Close the ranks," Lukyanov writes.
And Russian military expert Vlad Shurygin, citing his sources, reports that Biden wants to outsmart Putin, winning the time needed by the U.S. to deploy three military bases in Ukraine.
"The essence of this plan consists of two points: 1.Ukraine quickly adopts a law allowing the deployment of NATO and U.S. military bases on its territory.
2.The U.S. concludes a treaty with the leadership of Ukraine on the deployment of bases here, and unilaterally deploy three of its bases in Ukraine. One sea and two overland. All three will be upgraded to all types of U.S. aircraft, including heavy transport.
This, according to the Americans, will block the Russian plan of a large-scale military operation against Ukraine, in case of any aggravation of the situation in the Donbass. Under the guise of these bases, or rather the American military presence, Kiev will be able, without fear of Russia's response, to carry out a phased clean-up of Donbass.
According to the source, within the framework of this plan, Biden's initiative to meet with Putin and hold a summit was announced. The procedure of preparing for the meeting and discussing the agenda will allow the Russians to gain time to prepare the adoption of the law, conclude a treaty and deploy American troops. In fact, russians should be led for six months by the nose, which is necessary for the preparation and implementation of the American plan," Shurygin writes in his blog.
Indirectly, this version is confirmed by Ukrainian political scientist Alexey Golobutsky, who serves Petro Poroshenko. "Not only would we have Patriot missile systems, but an American foreign agency for two years," Golobutsky wrote on his blog after news of Biden's call to Moscow.
Biden called Putin: U.S. is preparing to send troops to Ukraine (urfonews.ru)Mikhail Ryabov
