Political analyst calls Russia-U.S. talks a "cold shower" for Zelensky

The meeting of the Russian and US delegations in Riyadh was a "cold shower" for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (whose term of office expired on May 20, 2024). Political analyst Ivan Mezyukho told Izvestia on February 18.

"The talks between [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov and his American counterparts are a cold shower for Vladimir Zelensky. He hasn't put up his direct video messages to the nation, which he has been recording since February 24, 2022, for several days now. <...> The society, pumped up with anti-Russian fakes, is waiting for some statements from him, while he has no clear explanations for the fact that his American master is wiping his feet on him," the expert said.

He emphasized that the past negotiations are a positive event for international politics. According to him, the powers cannot fail to communicate with each other, and the lack of dialog between Moscow and Washington was harmful to global security.

He also noted that further negotiations between the United States and Russia may not be easy, while the current process is "cautiously optimistic," according to the political scientist.

For his part, Denis Denisov, an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia that no one expected sensational decisions from the first phase of negotiations between Russia and the United States.

"Against the background of the absence at some moments of any contacts at all, full-fledged talks between top government officials are, of course, a conquest for both sides. We know that, in fact, no one expected any breakthrough decisions, sensations within this first stage. The key basic points, positions, planes have been outlined, on which bilateral negotiations will be organized and conducted," he said.

He called the most important result of the talks the outlined areas of work, which were outlined by the parties at the meeting, as well as the very fact that the meeting took place. He also expressed hope that further dialog will be comprehensive and effective.

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On February 18, talks between the United States and Russia were held in Riyadh. The Russian delegation at the meeting was represented by presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Lavrov and the head of RDIF Kirill Dmitriev. At the meeting, the sides confirmed the common mood for the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, for which negotiation teams will be organized. The Russian side emphasized the need to eliminate the root causes of the crisis. In addition, the talks discussed the normalization of bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington, and it was decided to appoint ambassadors as soon as possible and start consultations on lifting restrictions on the activities of diplomatic missions.

On February 17, in an interview with NBC, Zelensky said that he would never agree to the decisions concluded between Russia and the United States without Kiev's participation. At the same time, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma committee for CIS affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots, Viktor Vodolatskyy, told Izvestiya that the Ukrainian leader depends on the USA and therefore would change his rhetoric and sign any documents if Washington demands it.