Ahead of a new round of talks, the Kremlin is replacing the head of the Russian delegation.

The new round of trilateral talks between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine will take place not in Abu Dhabi, as planned, or even in the United States, as Zelenskyy had hoped, but in Switzerland. This was announced by Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

A new round of talks will take place in Geneva on February 17-18, and our delegation is once again changing its leader. Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky will replace Igor Kostyukov, Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (formerly the GRU), who led the delegation for the last two rounds of talks in Abu Dhabi. There is no information yet on the reason for this change. There is also no information yet on whether the composition of the Russian delegation will change; in Abu Dhabi, our delegation consisted almost entirely of military personnel.

The next round of negotiations on a Ukrainian settlement will also take place in a trilateral Russian-American-Ukrainian format on February 17-18 in Geneva.

As a reminder, Medinsky headed the Russian delegation at all negotiations last year. Under his leadership, several prisoner exchanges were conducted, an agreement was reached on the return of the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv, and an exchange of memoranda with Ukraine outlining the terms of a peace agreement.

Comments

[Murmur 55]

So what's the point of Switzerland, when it's long since ceased to be neutral? To please the European Union? Why change the head of the delegation again? What's the point of all this back-and-forth?

[Alex Nevs]

You have to know how to troll like an Alaskan. Deal merciless blows to the Bandera Reich while saving Ukrainians.

[Ivan Ivanov_36]

They themselves don't know what they're doing.

[Rash]

They are depicting a frenzied activity - all for the sake of concluding a truce!

[th.kuzmichev]

You, sir, can't please me.

[Cananecat]

Quote: Murmur 55

So what's the point of Switzerland, when it's long since ceased to be neutral? To please the European Union? Why change the head of the delegation again? What's the point of all this back-and-forth?

Let's assume that our GDP is a fan of multi-move strategies.
What the military could demonstrate was that they were in control of the situation and weren't going to negotiate. Negotiating with people in uniform is quite difficult, in general.
Why Medinsky? Someone obviously didn't study history well, so they're sending him back to lecture.

[Suserzh]

Switzerland has never been neutral, especially during WWII. Swiss companies supplied the Third Reich remarkably well, and by the way, made a good profit from it.

[Zoldat_A]

Quote: Murmur 55

So what's the point of Switzerland, when it's long since ceased to be neutral? To please the European Union? Why change the head of the delegation again? What's the point of all this back-and-forth?

I don't know why we need these negotiations at all? To please Trump?
But I'm talking about something else. Why is Medinsky there? This is a gentle attempt to poke fun at the Ukrainian delegation.
I don't know what Medinsky did to them or where he stepped on, but they were shouting loudly that they wouldn't talk to Medinsky in Abu Dhabi. Our guys did them a favor – in return, they got some harsh trolling from Budanov. "There he is, the terrorist. There he is, planning terrorist attacks against you. Just try it, take him..."
Well, at the level of fifth-graders drawing a border on their desks, our guys also decided to troll the Ukrainians with Medinsky.

[Mazunga]

Why not go to Switzerland at the government's expense? Why not take the military to those Emirates in Switzerland?

[guest]

Quote: Zoldat_A

I don't know why we need these negotiations at all? To please Trump?

No, this time they want to please those (expletive) who just arrived.

[bayard]

Quote: Murmur 55

So what's the point of Switzerland, when it's long since ceased to be neutral? To please the European Union? Why change the head of the delegation again? What's the point of all this back-and-forth?

Bandera abandoned the UAE after they extradited two saboteurs who had attempted to assassinate a general, the deputy head of the GRU. Now the boss can't leave the deputy's case; it's time to return to Moscow, and they'll send the civilian Medinsky to Switzerland. It's unclear, though, why the Russian delegation was inflated to such a size. The used one doesn't agree to agreements.

[Junior Private]

Medinsky is educated and diplomatic. I've read his books. They are written, in my humble opinion, patriotically and historically accurate. But what happened with the sign being screwed on in St. Petersburg—I don't understand at all.

[Murmur 55]

Junior private, he certainly did something with that plaque. They'll remember him for that for a long time.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: Junior Private

patriotic and historically accurate.

Regarding "historically accurate," did Medinsky himself tell you that? Medinsky is a court "historian," so expecting "historically accurate" from him is a mistake.
The change of the delegation's leader to one "educated and diplomatic" instead of a military man speaks of Russia's impending surrender of its positions, and of further "manifestations of goodwill."
Horrible, Medinsky's merit is "to negotiate the return of the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv,"
Yes, burying them in a mass grave would have been much cheaper for Russia.

[Junior Private]

I've read his books carefully; there's plenty to nitpick, but essentially he's right. History is a topic of eternal debate. Diplomatic matters should be handled by diplomats, not military men. Although, in my opinion, it's better to send a general without the refinements of etiquette, who will deliver an ultimatum. Have I answered all your questions?

[MstislavHrabr]

Medinsky is the Karamzin of our time. A court historian, a master popularizer of history! His films are excellent. His textbooks are much better than they were in recent years... Time will tell how good a diplomat he is.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: MstislavHrabr

Medinsky is the Karamzin of our time.

I would also add Solovyov to it.

[Ratimir]

A traitor to our time, like Karamzin and his Scandinavians. Why does Russian history include this Israelite tribe?

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: Junior Private

Have I answered all your questions?

Did I ask them?

[PVV22121922]

The change of the delegation's leader to one "educated and diplomatic" instead of a military man speaks of Russia's impending surrender of its positions, and of further "manifestations of goodwill."

- Most likely, that's how it will be. We will heroically achieve a deal.

[nik-mazur]

Quote: PVV22121922

We will heroically achieve a deal

You have predicted a fixed match so many times, but you still haven’t explained why we haven’t achieved it yet.

[nik-mazur]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

The change of the delegation's head... speaks of Russia's impending surrender of its positions, of further "manifestations of goodwill"

What, again? You've predicted this fifty times already, and yet nothing has come true. Aren't you tired of pointing your finger at the sky?

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote from: nik-mazur

What, again? You've already predicted this fifty times.

Me? You haven't confused me with someone else?
I first started talking about this after reading the seven points of K. Dmitriev's famous economic proposal to mattress makers. Check it out, if you're not too lazy.

[nik-mazur]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

Me? You haven't confused me with someone else?

Seriously? Not once in four years has anyone mentioned match-fixing? Well, that means there's another "Krasnoyarsk" here that's identical to the real thing.

[your1970]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

Horrible, Medinsky's merit is "to negotiate the return of the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv,"
Yes, burying them in a mass grave would have been much cheaper for Russia.

And bury Of their those who died humanely or is it cheaper to just throw them away as junk and that's it, right????!!!!

[Aken]

But I don’t understand at all what happened with screwing on the sign in St. Petersburg.

I suspect there was an attempt to lump together the whites and the reds. Like, this is our shared history and we love everyone. But the ungrateful people have forgotten nothing.

[guest]

Quote from Aken

I suspect there was an attempt to mix whites and reds together.

But the plaque to one of Hitler's main allies has little to do with the Whites; after all, among those same Whites there were many other, more worthy characters.

[Aken]

He chose a more or less neutral person, someone who hadn't directly participated in the Civil War. And a few years before that, they tried to tell us that Mannerheim saved Leningrad. And he could have captured it.

[Vadim Zhivov]

+ besides, the swineherds have a negative attitude towards the Medical One as a negotiator and they don’t hide it.

[your1970]

Quote: Junior Private

But I don’t understand at all what happened with screwing on the sign in St. Petersburg.

It's simple: two months before the plaque was installed, a delegation came to invite the Finns to join NATO. Two months after the plaque was installed, the Finns refused to join NATO. Three days after the refusal, the plaque was removed and stored away.
The Finns were shown that we adhere to Stalin's position on Finland, despite the scandalousness that occurs daily It was shown in the media - they understood everything.

[Zoldat_A]

Quote: Junior Private

Medinsky is educated and diplomatic.

Quote: Junior Private

Written, in my humble opinion, patriotically and historically accurate.

It was not for nothing, Leonid, that I divided your words into different quotes.
As the son and husband of a doctor and candidate of philological sciences, respectively, I've heard plenty about how our humanities are conducted. And so the first sentence is precisely what underlies the second. If a person engaged in science is well-educated and distinguished by diplomacy—that is, the ability to keep their finger on the pulse—then they will write books that are relevant to the current moment and, naturally, meet contemporary demands.

A demand for patriotism has emerged in society, and historically accurate and patriotic books are being written. Immediately, iPhones and badminton rackets are put aside, brutal posts are flying on social media, and paramilitary-style jackets are being purchased.
Mannerheim's true role in the war against the Soviet Union is beginning to be revealed – and it's becoming clear that highly educated and patriotic historians probably knew NOTHING about it, only that he served in the Russian Imperial Army... And yes, that very plaque, damn it NOW, was completely out of place and it's best not to remember it today...

All this is called "momentary political expediency" and has nothing to do with either a good education or patriotism.

Of course, philologists have been luckier than historians in this regard. L. N. Tolstoy and A. P. Chekhov were Tolstoy and Chekhov 100 years ago, and they will still be Tolstoy and Chekhov 200 years from now.
Historians have it much harder... Before 1917, there was one Mannerheim, in the 1930s and 40s, another Mannerheim, in the 1990s and early 2000s, a third Mannerheim. But it turns out he's actually the fourth—just as educated and honest historians now write. Try and figure out this Mannerheim... And there are so many Mannerheims in history... And for each one, we need to form a patriotic and historically accurate opinion, for the present day.

[Junior Private]

I don't even have anything to say to you in response. History is constantly being rewritten to suit the times.

[Fisher]

History is written by the victors, so it's quite possible that we still have a lot of interesting things to look forward to.

[your1970]

Quote: Zoldat_A

Historians have it much harder... Before 1917, there was one Mannerheim, in the 1930s and 40s, another Mannerheim, in the 1990s and early 2000s, a third Mannerheim. But it turns out he's actually the fourth—the same as what educated and honest historians are now writing about. Try and figure out this Mannerheim...

Was Stalin aware of this when Mannerheim was removed from the Nuremberg lists?
Despite the genocide of Leningrad?
You understand perfectly well that the Red Army of 1945 would have crushed the Finns (without aviation and with captured T-26s) in a week, if not faster.

[Zoldat_A]

Quote: your1970

Was Stalin aware of this when Mannerheim was removed from the Nuremberg lists?

It's not just about Mannerheim...
Well, for the sake of Big Politics, they then wrote down who knows who as the "winners"...
I hope the same thing doesn't happen now - otherwise they'll come running to divide up our Victory...

There, "the pale youth with a burning gaze" - he also knew how to become a "winner"...

[your1970]

Quote: Zoldat_A

Well, for the sake of Big Politics, they then wrote down who knows who as the "winners"...

So the Board was also an element of big politics at that time.

Stalin needed gasket between the USSR and capitalism - for normal trade, money circulation, etc.
He appointed She gave Finland to him - and he gratefully "sucked two mothers" for 70 years and more.
Then, entangled in compromising material, they came to Finland and tore apart everything they could. The population there groans: the money's gone, the forests are gone, the EU has plenty of food, but quotas are meager, long-haul truckers have lost their shipping quotas, the Saimaa Canal is empty...

[Zoldat_A]

Quote: your1970

So the Board was also an element of big politics at that time.

Just about the Boards...

A scandal is brewing in Yekaterinburg over the installation of a memorial plaque to Anton Kartashev, the last Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod and Minister of the Provisional Government. The plaque was unveiled on the building of the former Theological School (now a campus of the USUE-SINH) on 8 Marta Street. Acting Rector of the university Yakov Silin attended the ceremony, speaking of "restoring historical memory."

12 February 2026.
https://signalural.ru/news/11987

About the character

In June 1941, Anton Kartashev welcomed Nazi Germany's attack on the Soviet Union. In a letter to Ivan Shmelev, he wrote: "What a momentous day this Sunday was... Hitler set out on this day to liberate Holy Rus'... there was no other way but surgery."

25 June 1941

And here we are talking about Mannerheim...

[your1970]

Quote: Zoldat_A

Quote: your1970

So the Board was also an element of big politics at that time.

Just about the Boards...

A scandal is brewing in Yekaterinburg over the installation of a memorial plaque to Anton Kartashev, the last Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod and Minister of the Provisional Government. The plaque was unveiled on the building of the former Theological School (now a campus of the USUE-SINH) on 8 Marta Street. Acting Rector of the university Yakov Silin attended the ceremony, speaking of "restoring historical memory."

12 February 2026.
https://signalural.ru/news/11987

About the character

In June 1941, Anton Kartashev welcomed Nazi Germany's attack on the Soviet Union. In a letter to Ivan Shmelev, he wrote: "What a momentous day this Sunday was... Hitler set out on this day to liberate Holy Rus'... there was no other way but surgery."

25 June 1941

And here we are talking about Mannerheim...

But this is precisely another politics – a civil war. Which didn't end in 1922, as in history, but continues to this day. For 100 years now, Banderites, monarchists, Reds, Whites, Dashnaks, Musavatists, nationalists, and anarchists have been trampling each other underfoot, verbally and in reality.
Will one of them win?
No, there is no unifying core passive the mass of the population of the idea.
Nationalism won't work, there's too much mixed up in the country,
Communist - there aren't enough passionate poor and needy people - there's no way around them (those with mortgages and car loans won't go and burn down administration buildings and smash up police departments)

[Hey]

Whatever you like, but after he hung a memorial plaque to Mannerheim in Leningrad, the general who carried out the siege of that city, he ceased to be for me as a person, as a politician, as a historian.
And also gestures of goodwill in negotiations with his participation.
This appointment stinks, it's tactless.

[isv000]

Quote: MUD

Whatever you like, but after he hung a memorial plaque to Mannerheim in Leningrad, the general who carried out the siege of that city, he ceased to be for me as a person, as a politician, as a historian.
And also gestures of goodwill in negotiations with his participation.
This appointment stinks, it's tactless.

Mannerheim, first and foremost, was in the Emperor's retinue, participated, was a general in the Russian Empire, was decorated, and was quite instrumental. I'm not defending him, but there's no escaping the historical fact. Everything else happened in his second life. The Civil War...

[guest]

Quote: isv000

Mannerheim, first of all, was in the Emperor’s retinue, participated, was a general of the Russian Empire, was awarded and brought a lot of benefit.

But Vlasov was a Soviet general, also with awards, so by the same logic, he should also have a plaque?

[PVV22121922]

"useful" in the retinue Tell this to the fallen Leningraders. Truly, "time heals" historical memory, replacing it with a surrogate.

[kebeskin]

Regarding the historicity of his lectures. You can certainly believe it if you have little to do with historiography. He unveiled monuments to Mannerheim, which is hardly surprising. With the advent of the 90s, many now-famous people talked about how bad the communists were and openly justified the fascists, Mannerheims, and White generals who shouldn't be labeled. And what films, like "Penal Battalion" and other Sozhenitsyn-esque nonsense, we watched and heard. For example, the film about Zoya Kosmodemyamskaya:
We live in a (biblical) history textbook.
This is what the former Minister of Culture, and now the sovereign's advisor, Medinsky, told schoolchildren during important conversations.
And the conversation was about Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya.
Medina:
- We are responsible for the memory of Zoya.
Please note, this is coming from someone who, along with the Russian Military Historical Society, was directly involved in the film about the tram and the bun. In it, Zoya simply believed in something while listening to a song based on Rogozin's poem about Golgotha.
Zoya's beliefs and aspirations are easily revealed in her personal diary, the memoirs of her mother, and her colleagues. If you find simple faith, faith in the tram and money for matches (like in the movies), blink twice.
By the way, this disgusting film product, with a film content of no less than 40%, is being foisted on children without even trying to take into account the numerous well-founded criticisms.
But why bother taking anything into account? You just have to believe, that's enough.
The level of cynicism and, at the same time, self-importance of these characters is simply off the charts. First, they douse our own history with thick streams of a certain substance, using the public's money, then sell tickets to this nightmare to the public, and then, smiling, they offer a shovelful of that substance and say:
- Would you like to eat some more?
He's quite the activist.

[lubesky]

Quote: kebeskin

By the way, this disgusting film product, with a film content of no less than 40%, is being foisted on children without even trying to take into account the numerous well-founded criticisms.

Thank you, comrade, for Zoya. If you have time, read my article about Zoya here.

[your1970]

Quote: MUD

Whatever you like, but after he hung a memorial plaque to Mannerheim in Leningrad, the general who carried out the siege of that city, he ceased to be for me as a person, as a politician, as a historian.
And also gestures of goodwill in negotiations with his participation.
This appointment stinks, it's tactless.

Then, apparently, Stalin personally deleted Mannerheim from the lists of the Nuremberg Tribunal - the man who carried out genocide Leningrad - and the one who freed him from the minimum sentence altogether - is apparently completely toxic and smells bad for you, right???
Or "this is different!!! (C)"?

In case you didn't know, "Politics is a dirty business" (c) is attributed to a bunch of people, including Stalin.

[isv000]

Medinsky is a great history lecturer. Let him sit in their ears and carefully spin a yarn. So they'll eat it up and keep it going. While we're liberating Slavyansk...

[Magog_]

Let him sit on their ears and carefully spin noodles.

That's why they put him in charge! He spouts such nonsense in his history lectures, just as he stated in his dissertation. In short, it sounds like this: everything in history is true if it benefits the current government. How clear and cynical!

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: isv000

Medinsky gives excellent lectures on history.

Really? Haven't you listened to E. Spitsyn's lectures? I recommend them for comparison.

[isv000]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

Really? Haven't you listened to E. Spitsyn's lectures? I recommend them for comparison.

E. Spitsyn is not sent as the head of the delegation.

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: isv000

E. Spitsyn is not sent as the head of the delegation.

Because he is not a courtier, he will not say - what would you like, sir?

[isv000]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

Quote: isv000

E. Spitsyn is not sent as the head of the delegation.

Because he is not a courtier, he will not say - what would you like, sir?

The point of the article is something else entirely, not about who gives the better lectures. You've got something mixed up here...

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: isv000

The point of the article is something else entirely, not about who gives the better lectures. You've got something mixed up here...

The point of the article is that a military man who unequivocally declares, "It will be as Russia says," is being replaced by a man accustomed to dodging and pandering...
The mattress makers see this as a sign of weakness. Note Doni's behavior toward Russia.
By the way, did you know that “In 2017, the expert council of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) recommended stripping Medinsky of his Doctor of Historical Sciences degree.

[isv000]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

The point of the article is that a military man who unequivocally declares, "It will be as Russia says," is being replaced by a man accustomed to dodging and pandering...

Are you seriously proposing to send a high-ranking General Staff officer, a bearer of state and military secrets, to a country that has undermined its own sovereignty by supplying weapons to Ukraine?!!

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: isv000

carrier of state and military secrets into the country,

Do you seriously think he will defect?
Or that there will be an attempt on his life?
Then you need to see a psychiatrist.

[tralflot1832]

The head of the Russian GRU to Switzerland??? No and again no. Medinsky will do; there's no point in killing him.

[isv000]

Quote: tralflot1832

The head of the Russian GRU to Switzerland??? No and again no. Medinsky will do; there's no point in killing him.

Why are we constantly running to the addresses they give us?! Let them spend money on tickets too, to Sochi, or maybe even Norilsk!

[berlaga2005]

Better in Yalta. Putin with Trump.

[isv000]

And what's Trump doing here?! The warring parties should negotiate. The organizers and sponsors can take a back seat for the subsequent tribunal. Honestly, we're acting like victims; diplomats and politicians are tarnishing the honor of the Russian soldier...

[Andobor]

There is no point in talking with the kaklyatin about anything practical, let them study history, Medinsky will teach them.

[th.kuzmichev]

The main thing is, let him teach the Americans; that's the point of the platform. It's useless for the ones with the forelocks; they have no brains.

[vfkuk]

Quote: Murmur 55

Why change the head of the delegation again?

The military has a lot of serious matters to attend to right now; let Medinsky talk to them about peace.

[foxes]

That is, on the territory of an openly hostile EU entity that openly supports the Bandera regime. Now, apparently, they've decided to start pleasing their "European partners."

[MetalDesign]

Quote: Murmur 55

Why change the head of the delegation again, what is the point of all this hesitation?

Because they couldn't reach a substantive agreement on the Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas, the use of force to force peace is once again being used. And Medinsky will teach them to love Mother Russia, relying on historical facts and showing the whole world that it's not us who are sabotaging the negotiation process.

[Dilettante grandfather]

Honestly, I don't get it. Yes, Medinsky is a historian. Yes, he's an aide to the president. But, it seems to me, he's not a diplomat at all. And negotiations are diplomacy.

Instead of the Chief of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (former GRU) Igor Kostyukov,

Well, I don't quite get it, or rather, I don't get it at all. So, the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces is involved in intelligence? Hmm... I thought it was important, but not the main thing in the General Staff's work... The General Staff, in my opinion, should handle all issues. And not prioritize intelligence.

[Andobor]

Quote: Grandfather is an amateur

And negotiations are diplomacy.

Are you planning to practice diplomacy with this kaklyatin? - Let them study history.

[Dilettante grandfather]

Are you planning to practice diplomacy with this kaklyatin? - Let them study history.

1. I don't think we switched to the informal "you".
2. History? They've already learned theirs. And neither Medinsky nor Derzhavin will convince them otherwise that they didn't dig the Black Sea.
3. We're different from them because we follow protocol. You can't rehabilitate the rabble. And everyone can see that, except you, apparently.

[Andobor]

Quote: Grandfather is an amateur

The fact that we follow protocol is what makes us different from them.

Medinsky will perfectly observe protocol and give a historical lecture on this matter; there is nothing to discuss with the Ukrainians on the matter.

[Dilettante grandfather]

Medinsky will follow the protocol perfectly,

He does, yes. But he's not a diplomat, he's a historian. And sending him to negotiate is like appointing a nuclear physicist, an academic, as Minister of Culture. It's the wrong direction.

will give a historical lecture on this matter

Yes, at least two. It is impossible to convince the Nazis.

[Gardamir]

Exactly. An economist handles agriculture. He's also not a military man. The Minister of Culture, before she was appointed to this position, cursed at everyone, saying she hated everything related to culture.
And he appointed himself a historian. He was a journalist, a deputy,

[your1970]

Quote: Gardamir

Exactly. An economist deals with agriculture. He's also not a military man.

Seminarian - Leader of the country, one of the best.
Locksmith - People's Commissar of Defense,
Architect-builder - Ministry of Internal Affairs and the nuclear project

And so on - there are plenty of such in our history.

[Gardamir]

That story was about developing the country. Now they buy potatoes from China...

[your1970]

Quote: Gardamir

That story was about developing the country. Now they buy potatoes from China...

In that story also Vegetables were bought abroad - people started fights in the queues for the "Globus"...
And how many vegetables were abandoned and rotting in the fields and at the vegetable warehouses...

By the way, I recently saw "Globus", bought some to try, it's edible, but nothing more - there's no "wow" effect like back then.

[Gardamir]

Since 2012, the word "Globus" has been written as "Bonduelle".

As part of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA), Hungary actively supplied the USSR with food (Globus canned goods, vegetables, and fruit), Ikarus buses (which formed the core of the fleet), medicine, leather footwear, and furniture (Csaba furniture). In exchange, Hungary received cheap Soviet oil, raw materials, and energy resources, which ensured the stability of its economy.

In my homeland, birch trees grow in the fields. So, nothing is rotting in the fields now.

[your1970]

Quote: Gardamir

Since 2012, the word "Globus" has been written as "Bonduelle".

As part of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA), Hungary actively supplied the USSR with food (Globus canned goods, vegetables, and fruit), Ikarus buses (which formed the core of the fleet), medicine, leather footwear, and furniture (Csaba furniture). In exchange, Hungary received cheap Soviet oil, raw materials, and energy resources, which ensured the stability of its economy.

In my homeland, birch trees grow in the fields. So, nothing is rotting in the fields now.

Well, there are no extra soldiers or junior research fellows to dig it up.

Quote: Gardamir

Hungary, within the framework of the CMEA, actively supplied food to the USSR (Globus canned goods, vegetables, fruits),

and what's the difference between THEN and NOW - if the vegetables are imported from China and Hungary?

[your1970]

Quote: Grandfather is an amateur

Medinsky will follow the protocol perfectly,

He does, yes. But he's not a diplomat, he's a historian. And sending him to negotiate is like appointing a nuclear physicist, an academic, as Minister of Culture. It's the wrong direction.

will give a historical lecture on this matter

Yes, at least two. It is impossible to convince the Nazis.

And he not He convinces them - he shows the world that they are incapable of negotiation and is stalling for time.

[Dilettante grandfather]

But he doesn’t try to convince them - he shows the world that they are incapable of reaching an agreement and is stalling for time.

Of course, it's a drag. But, let's just say, it's only worth dragging out time so that it's profitable for the GPI.

[Driller]

[quote=Dilettante Grandfather][quote]Medinsky will observe protocol perfectly,[/quote] He does, yes. But he's not a diplomat, he's a historian. And sending him to negotiate is like appointing a nuclear physicist, an academic, as Minister of Culture. It's the wrong direction.

At MGIMO, from student to teacher... Definitely an amateur.

[Lako]

As I recall, Medinsky was also part of the Russian delegation in Istanbul. Everyone knows how it ended—"lecturing on history." I wouldn't want it to continue.

[nik-mazur]

Quote from lako

Everyone knows how the "history lecture" ended.

Everyone knows there was nothing, really. Only, alas, the patriots seem to imagine that some terribly shameful fix was involved.

[Lako]

Well, even watching that press conference, with the falling glasses, I thought the same thing—nothing special. The disgrace began later. The withdrawal of troops allowed the Kyiv regime to mobilize in the occupied territories. For four years now, residents of Russia's border regions have been living in the frontline zone.

[nik-mazur]

Quote from lako

The disgrace began later. The withdrawal of troops allowed the Kyiv regime to mobilize in the occupied territories.

Which territories exactly are you referring to? And what's the connection between the troop withdrawal, the Istanbul negotiations, and the Medina talks?

[Lako]

It was Medinsky who represented the Russian delegation at the Istanbul talks in 2022. Following these talks, the withdrawal of troops from Kyiv began. What happened behind the scenes of these negotiations will not be revealed anytime soon.

[nik-mazur]

Quote from lako

After them, the withdrawal of troops from near Kyiv began.

a) Judging by what has leaked onto the internet, Ukraine agreed to all of Russia's conditions, and at the end of April, minor details were discussed, such as the size of the Ukrainian army and the number of tanks, but overall the agreement had already been initialed by both parties.
b) The negotiations eventually broke down because Boris Johnson convinced the Ukrainian leadership to fight to the last Ukrainian.
c) After doesn't mean as a consequence. And in fact, the troops left because of the negotiations. not took place.
Well, where is the fix, the shame and the poor performance of Medinsky here?

[Lako]

If the negotiations broke down and Ukraine refused to sign the treaty, then what was the point of the troop withdrawal? Something else was at stake. Although, there are more questions here, not for Medinsky, but for his handler.

[nik-mazur]

Quote from lako

What was the point of withdrawing troops? There was something else going on.

Our group numbered only about 150 men. We had few troops, but a lot of territory. Enough for control, but not for serious combat. Therefore, when it became clear that negotiations had failed, the troops withdrew to avoid clashes with the enemy's superior forces. But, by the way, not everywhere – the corridor to Crimea, forged while everyone was looking toward Kyiv, remained ours. And even the great counteroffensive of 2023 changed nothing.
In principle, everything is simple if you use Occam's razor and don't come up with cunning conspiracy theories.

[Lako]

Looking at the balance of forces at the start of the troop deployment in Ukraine, even more questions arise. The Russian group numbered approximately 190, plus the forces of the LPR and DPR, another 25-30. The entire Ukrainian ground force numbered approximately 120. This was despite Russia's overwhelming superiority in armored vehicles, artillery, and aviation. Given the ease with which the Russians entered Ukrainian territory, the Ukrainian troops were significantly demoralized. However, after the withdrawal of their troops, in 2023, Ukraine increased its ground force to 500 through total mobilization, including in the territories from which the Russians had withdrawn. Furthermore, massive arms deliveries from the West began. But even then, the Russian leadership did not redeploy forces to Ukraine or activate its mobilization resources until the Ukrainian counteroffensive began. Were they waiting for certain agreements to be fulfilled?

[nik-mazur]

Quote from lako

Ukrainian ground forces number about 120 thousand

Where do such funny numbers come from?

According to Ukrainian media, by January 2022, the country's ground forces numbered approximately 250 people.

Quote from lako

Were you expecting certain agreements to be fulfilled?

There is no point in creating unnecessary entities – we need to find the simplest explanations.

[OlegEKB]

I'm not a diplomat at all. And negotiations are diplomacy.

Medinsky graduated from MGIMO and even worked at the embassy

[Dilettante grandfather]

Medinsky graduated from MGIMO and even worked at the embassy

Quite possibly. But that doesn't mean he's a professional diplomat. He can give lectures, yes. I don't see him as a diplomat.

[Zheka111]

Mnogohodovochka.
Thimbles.....

In general, this all looks like an elegant gesture of humiliation towards our Western partners - like, if you don’t want to negotiate substantively and implement agreements, then you’ll have to sniff the spirit of Anchorage and study history.

[alexboguslavski]

The Ukrainians don't like Medinsky for his stubbornness.

[Ant97]

[quote=Zoldat_A][quote=Ропот 55]Why is Medinsky there? This is a gentle attempt to prick the Ukrainian delegation.
I don't know what Medinsky did to them or where he stepped on, but they were shouting loudly that they wouldn't talk to Medinsky in Abu Dhabi. Our guys did them a favor – in return, they got some harsh trolling from Budanov. "There he is, the terrorist. There he is, planning terrorist attacks against you. Just try it, take him..."
. [/ Quote]
This attempt of ours is really too gentle, considering the assassination attempt on General Alekseev, the immediate superior of our previous negotiator, and considering the fact that during the exchange, the Azovites who had already been convicted were released, as if we had no other exchange fund besides them.

[PVV22121922]

The shameful policies of the Russian leadership will not only remove our country from the list of powers, but could also actually lead to the beginning of centrifugal tendencies...

[kebeskin]

Quote: lubesky

Quote: kebeskin

By the way, this disgusting film product, with a film content of no less than 40%, is being foisted on children without even trying to take into account the numerous well-founded criticisms.

Thank you, comrade, for Zoya. If you have time, read my article about Zoya here.

Why not read it?

[Ross xnumx]

Ahead of a new round of talks, the Kremlin is replacing the head of the Russian delegation.

Then they swapped places -
She's on top, and he's underneath...

You're doing something that's none of your business, gentlemen negotiators. It's so impolite to tell the other side that if Russia's terms aren't acceptable, they should look for someone more accommodating...
At the moment, negotiations may concern the exchange of prisoners and the exchange of bodies of those killed...
But it’s so convenient to travel abroad at government expense...
Do the soldiers there at the SVO trust Medinsky, who never served in the army, to make decisions? Or is something else entirely important?

Vladimir Medinsky applied to the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, but was rejected due to not meeting vision requirements.

But it seems to me that over time he developed political myopia and began to confuse questions of history with the benefits (or harm) of the rule of the tsarist dynasty for Russia.
Menshikov also tried to please Peter the Great, but ended up in Berezovo...

[alexboguslavski]

Yesterday, Zelenskyy practically stated outright that Ukraine is creating the appearance of interest in negotiations so that the US will not accuse it of disrupting the peace process.

Today, Russia made exactly the same point, but without words, by once again sending Medinsky, who is perceived in Ukraine as a decidedly negative figure for such meetings, to lead the negotiations.

In fact, both sides are feigning a desire for peace, which is only visible to one global audience – Donald Trump – while simultaneously attempting to provoke each other into withdrawing from the negotiation process. Ukraine attempted to assassinate the deputy of the previous head of the Russian negotiating delegation, and Russia sent a man to the negotiations whose presence caused the opposing delegation to experience uncontrollable tremors. They exerted intellectual pressure, which was close to zero for the other side.

[Vatnik_]

The military issues have been resolved, but political ones remain.

[Victor Alien]

Ha, what's the reason for the change? The General Staff has revealed the real state of affairs at the front. And Medinsky will go off again to tell the story to the idiots in Europe. Everyone has already said there's no point in negotiations... We'll continue the meat grinder. It will be easier for the rest of us to manipulate the brains on our territory later.

[PVV22121922]

Medinsky is a disgrace to history and diplomacy. And a sign to bend even lower. Trump is already "out." from negotiations, and we are becoming more and more flexible....

[PVV22121922]

Quote: Krasnoyarsk

The change of the delegation's leader to one "educated and diplomatic" instead of a military man speaks of Russia's impending surrender of its positions, and of further "manifestations of goodwill."

I believe that we are heroically striving to reach a fixed match, despite all the obstacles...

[snow mountain]

Quote from Mazunga

Why don't the military go to the Emirates and Switzerland?

It's still ski season! The snow is blue, the girls are pink.

[abrakadabre]

Quote: Zoldat_A

Quote: Murmur 55

So what's the point of Switzerland, when it's long since ceased to be neutral? To please the European Union? Why change the head of the delegation again? What's the point of all this back-and-forth?

I don't know why we need these negotiations at all? To please Trump?
But I'm talking about something else. Why is Medinsky there? This is a gentle attempt to poke fun at the Ukrainian delegation.
I don't know what Medinsky did to them or where he stepped on, but they were shouting loudly that they wouldn't talk to Medinsky in Abu Dhabi. Our guys did them a favor – in return, they got some harsh trolling from Budanov. "There he is, the terrorist. There he is, planning terrorist attacks against you. Just try it, take him..."
Well, at the level of fifth-graders drawing a border on their desks, our guys also decided to troll the Ukrainians with Medinsky.

Deputy Tolstoy should be sent as the head of the delegation.

[Fisher]

It's all a bit hard to understand. Putin, if I'm not mistaken, once declared that Switzerland can't be a platform for negotiations because it has lost its neutrality. Friend Trump, along with the spirit of Anchorage, is trying to push us out of all markets and crush anyone who buys anything from us. He's cut off Starlink, but he's still supplying us with weapons. Zelensky stands firm: he won't give up an inch of ground and will fight to the end. And we're all for negotiations—for what purpose and for what end, I just can't understand. Someone should explain what we're fighting for.

[Ross xnumx]

Quote from Fisher

And we're all for negotiations—for what purpose and for what end, I just can't understand. Someone should explain what we're fighting for.

And I don’t foresee anything good coming from “Medinsky himself”’s trip...

[nik-mazur]

Quote: ROSS 42

I don't foresee anything good coming from "Medinsky himself"'s trip

Does this even happen, so that you can foresee something good?

[S. Viktorovich]

It makes sense for Medinsky to appear at the negotiations if they reach the "Minsk-Istanbul" level, i.e., the main parties have reached an agreement and their victory needs to be explained to everyone.

[Captain Pushkin]

Quote from Fisher

Someone should explain what we are fighting for.

It looks like a fight for a fixed match...

[Ratimir]

Well, instead of one Jew, we have another old, new Jew. Question: Why are Jews negotiating Russia now? We're Israel to me.

[Ratimir]

Where Medinsky is, there he is.