When American journalist John Reed documented his firsthand experience of the 1917 Russian Revolution, he aptly named it Ten Days That Shook The World.
However, just a week is enough for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to create significant waves.
The events unfolded with a phone call between Putin and Trump on February 12, wherein they both promised to rejuvenate their bilateral relations.
This was followed by the Munich Security Conference, which highlighted a rift between Europe and America.
The next phase brought discussions in Saudi Arabia – the first significant in-person engagement between the two nations since Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine.
This week has dramatically shifted established alliances, left Europe and Ukraine grappling for responses, intensified worries over European security, and placed Russia in its desired position: at the forefront of global diplomacy, all without making any compromises.
A striking image graces Wednesday morning’s Russian publications: high-ranking Russian and American officials negotiating in Riyadh.
The Kremlin aims for both the Russian populace and the global audience to recognize that efforts to diplomatically corner Russia due to the Ukrainian conflict have failed.
Russian media are expressing optimism about closer relations with Washington while ridiculing European leaders and Kyiv.
“Trump is aware he will need to make concessions [to Russia] as he is dealing with the side that’s prevailing in Ukraine,” pro-Kremlin tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets reports. “He will yield. Not at the cost of America, but at the expense of Europe and Ukraine.
“For so long, Europe has strutted around thinking of itself as the civilized world and a Garden of Eden. It failed to notice it had lost its grip… now its old ally across the Atlantic has pointed that out…”
However, on the streets of Moscow, this sentiment of triumph isn’t notably evident.
Instead, citizens are observing and waiting to see if Trump could genuinely become Russia’s closest ally and if he can facilitate an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
“Trump is a businessman. His main focus is on profit,” shares Nadezhda. “I don’t believe much will change. There’s too much that needs addressing to alter the situation.”
“Hopefully those discussions [in Saudi Arabia] will be beneficial,” Giorgi notes. “It’s time for us to stop being adversaries.”
“Trump is proactive. He has vigor. But will he take any actions?” reflects Irina.
“We aspire for these discussions to pave the way for peace. It’s a starting point. Perhaps this will even aid our economy. Prices for food and other necessities keep climbing here, partly due to the special military operation [the conflict in Ukraine] and the overall international climate.”
Putin and Trump have connected via telephone; their teams have convened in Saudi Arabia; a presidential summit is anticipated shortly.
Recently, the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper speculated on the content of the leaders’ last phone exchange.
They imagined this dialogue:
“Trump reached out to Putin.
‘Vladimir! Your country is fantastic and mine is too. Shall we go ahead and split the world?’
‘What have I been saying all along? Let’s do it!….”
Is this mere fantasy? Time will tell.
