Russian state media is reveling in the country’s recent resurgence on the global diplomatic stage following talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia that lasted for over four hours. This meeting, which included direct engagement between the foreign ministers of both nations, marked the first significant face-to-face interaction since President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
A shift in geopolitical dynamics
Moscow’s state-controlled media has framed this development as a considerable success for President Putin. The exclusion of European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from these discussions has been portrayed as a significant setback for them, further promoting Moscow’s narrative of superiority in the current geopolitical landscape. This sidelining of Zelenskyy, particularly, is seen as a strategic maneuver to undermine his political legitimacy, especially with his presidential term extending beyond its original five-year duration, which is set to end in May 2024, under the constraints of ongoing martial law in Ukraine.
“It wasn’t us who broke off relations,” asserted TV presenter Dmitry Kiselyov, head of Rossiya Segodnya, reflecting the sentiment that the recent U.S.-Russia communications signify a re-establishment of dialogue.
The enthusiastic media coverage has been building since last week’s 90-minute phone call between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin, which Russian media emphasized was initiated by Trump. Kiselyov and other prominent state media figures have characterized the Riyadh talks as an initial step toward the potential revival of U.S.-Russia relations, paving the way for a future summit between Putin and Trump.
Strategic priorities in diplomacy
Yuri Ushakov, a seasoned Kremlin foreign policy adviser, remarked on the importance of the discussions, stating that both nations acknowledge each other’s interests and are keen to foster bilateral relations. “We have agreed to take account of each other’s interests and develop bilateral relations, since both Moscow and Washington are interested in this,” Ushakov told Channel One Russia.
While the prospect of peace negotiations regarding Ukraine is being addressed, Russian media emphasizes that the overarching narrative is centered around the collaboration between Putin and Trump in shaping a new multipolar world order. This diplomatic effort is being characterized as a re-alignment of ideologies, suggesting that the U.S. is finally aligning with Putin’s visionary stance on various socio-political issues.
In this context, Kremlin strategists aim to maintain the image of Putin as the dominant figure in these discussions, with efforts to depict Kyiv and Europe as increasingly irrelevant to the ongoing dialogue. Reports suggest that the Kremlin seeks to present any eventual resolution to the conflict as a bilateral decision between Moscow and Washington, effectively sidelining other stakeholders.
Moreover, state media has consistently emphasized that Ukraine will not regain any territories occupied by Russia since the outset of the invasion, nor will it ever be permitted to join NATO, reinforcing Russia’s position in this multifaceted power struggle.