Tuesday, October 12, 2021

U.S. - Russian Talks To Ease Diplomatic Tensions Have Collapsed

U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland leaves the Russian Foreign Ministry after her meeting with the deputy foreign minister in Moscow on October 12.  

RFE: Russians Signal 'Little Progress' In Talks With Top U.S. Official 

Russian officials have signaled little progress in high-level talks with a senior visiting U.S. State Department official, saying a dispute over embassy staffing and other matters remains unresolved. 

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that his talks with Victoria Nuland, a No. 3 official at the State Department, were useful, but he warned of possible worsening. 

 "The Americans are not heeding our logic or our demands," Ryabkov was quoted by RIA Novosti and TASS as saying. "At the same time, the talks were useful."  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Cannot say that I am surprised to see these talks collapse. The Kremlin views Victoria Nuland as the architect that fractured and plunged Ukraine into war in 2014. 

From the Kremlin's perspective Victoria Nuland was the main person in the Obama administration responsible for undermining Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych's government that led to the Euromaiden protests, the overthrow of Yanukovych's government, the imposition of draconian anti-Russian language and cultural restrictions, measures that quickly led to the revolt in Russian-dominated eastern Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea by Russia, and a war that shows no signs of ending. 

What does not help is that Victoria Nuland herself bragged about her involvement to undermine Ukraine's government in 2014 (see video here). 

Bottom line. 

The Kremlin sees the arrival of Nuland today as a signal that Washington has no interest in alleviating tensions, and the collapse of today's talks only confirms that belief. 

As for Victoria Nuland's real reason to be in Moscow .... getting Moscow's support to the establishment of US bases on the border of Afghanistan and flights over Russia to support these bases .... that deal is all but dead .... Russia Says 'Unacceptable' for U.S. to Maintain Military in Central Asia After Afghanistan (Newsweek). 

More News On Today's U.S. - Russia Talks  

‘The Americans aren’t listening to us,’ Russia says as major Moscow talks between Biden’s envoy and Kremlin’s diplomats break down -- RT  

Russia Warns of 'New Aggravations' in U.S. Ties -- AFP  

Russia: No progress on diplomatic missions during talks with US -- The Hill

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have different POV than WNU. The Russian poisoned a Ukrainian leader. So we are not talking choir boys in Moscow. Choir boys or not the Russian have a certain view of Victoria Nuland, so why send her? Why not reassign here to an equal job somewhere else?

All analogies break down when take too far, but here goes.

Suppose you have a good sales person but for some reason they do not get along with a certain client. As sales manager would you keep that sales person in that territory or shift them to another territory and keep sales high?

I really do not care that Nuland said Fuck the EU. The EU is overrated and full of themselves. Sometimes you need to call a spade a spade. Who was crying Merkel? Merkel is a disaster. Merkel may actually love Germany, but she is going to love it to death.

Maybe it makes sense to send Nuland to signal to the Russian that the US is not backing down. Maybe. But what if it is more that Nuland is part of the Kool Kids Klub and it does not matter what other nations think.

Anonymous said...

I RECALL THE OLD ALMANAC SONG:
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON

Anonymous said...

I am surprised at our request to create new bases that require overflight of Russia.
The last thing Russia wants is the trouble such a situation would bring to the area not to mention an long time adversary who just left the area post haste. This issue coming up speaks of a not too bright bunch somewhere in the White House, methinks.

Anonymous said...

Why should not the Russians work with the Americans?

The Chinese work with the Russians; they hold joint exercises. this after the Russians came close to nuking the Chinese and had to be dissuaded by the Americans.

Maybe the Russians should counter offer with a Joint Russia-American Uzbek base?

See how serious the American side is.

Adam said...

I'm sure we would just love Russian bases in northern Mexico and parts of Canada. The democrats have had a ridiculous hard-on for hostilities with Russia for a very long time. I'm not saying Russia is great, not even close in fact. Under Putin they suck but since the cold war ended NATO has been fucking them over non-stop when in reality we should have pushed for greater relations and alliances. I've always thought we have more cultural similarities with the Russian people then with the Chinese by far. Just my two cents.

Anonymous said...

We have cultural similarities with anyone from anywhere. Outside of established groups, anyone from anywhere usually want a good sex life, they want to eat good food, they want skills or education to get them a good job, they want to travel, they want leisure time, they want they kids to do well...