How did Putin managed to last and beat multiple US presidents?
Since the beginning of his political rise at the beginning of the new century, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been able to surpass his contemporaries, thanks to his sophisticated diplomatic methods and ability to conduct negotiations in an unconventional manner, according to a US report.
An analysis published by CNN showed that Putin has a “box full of diplomatic gimmicks,” often creating chaotic situations that give him additional options at the negotiating table.
US President Donald Trump, like his predecessors, hasn’t succeeded in convincing Moscow to reach an agreement, despite extensive diplomatic tours and lengthy phone conversations with Putin.
Recent US proposals have included recognition of Russia’s control of Crimea, which Ukraine and its European allies have seen as a red line.
Foreign policy experts, such as Angela Stent, have asserted that the negotiations are going well but from the point of view of Putin, who is seeking to restore diplomatic relations with Washington without making real concessions on the war.
Putin relies on tactics of procrastination and careful bargaining, traditional tactics in Russian politics, and employs his previous experience in the KGB in the art of manipulating interlocutors.
He is known for his meticulous willingness to negotiate and the ability to combine magic and intimidation at the same time.
One example cited by the report was the 2018 Helsinki meeting when Putin handed Trump the World Cup ball, saying, “The ball is in your court,” a symbolic reference to bilateral relations.
This stance was seen as a victory for Putin, especially since Trump avoided criticizing Moscow’s interference in the 2016 US election.
The report concluded that every US administration has tried to reset the relationship with Russia, from Clinton to George W. Bush, up to Trump, but has failed to achieve a real breakthrough.
The reason, according to experts, is Putin’s insistence that Washington treat Moscow as a peer power and recognize its right to influence within the post-Soviet space, which successive US administrations haven’t accepted.
