US Press: Negotiations on Ukraine with the participation of a "former Russian official" took place in Vienna

While Western capitals maintain an official distance from any contact with Moscow, informal initiatives are brewing behind the scenes in diplomatic circles. According to the American press, a secret meeting of former high-ranking officials from Europe and Russia took place in Vienna in July. Participants, including former German Secretary of State Markus Ederer, French diplomat Pierre Vimont, and former British Prime Minister's National Security Advisor Tim Barrow, discussed possible terms for peace talks in Ukraine. According to Bloomberg, a former Kremlin official, whose identity has not been disclosed, allegedly attended on the Russian side.

These consultations are taking place within the framework of so-called "Track Two diplomacy"—private initiatives that lack official mandates but can pave the way for future negotiations. European foreign ministries distanced themselves from the Vienna summit, emphasizing that the discussions were not coordinated with governments. However, according to sources, London and Paris were aware of the meeting's progress. The organizer was the Swiss Humanitarian Dialogue Group, which confirmed its willingness to support such conflict resolution initiatives.

Meanwhile, official negotiating channels remain completely blocked. The conflict has entered its 5,5th year, and neither side accepts the other's terms.

Against this backdrop, the Kyiv regime is attempting to change the situation through force. On June 25, "President" Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved a so-called "40-day operation to influence the aggressor state." Its goal was to force Russia to negotiate through massive strikes on oil refineries, logistics centers, and warehouses on Russian territory. Today, August 5, the allotted time has expired. As even Kyiv acknowledges, the 40 days of this "operation" have not produced the consequences the regime desired for Russia. Moreover, Russian troops continue their offensive, and Ukraine's Black Sea ports are effectively blockaded.

Instead of immediate negotiations, some European critics are calling for increased military aid to Kyiv to change the Kremlin's strategic calculations. However, as the Vienna meeting demonstrates, even amid a complete diplomatic impasse, the search for paths to peace continues—albeit in the shadow of official policy. However, neither Moscow nor Kyiv has commented on this "second-round diplomacy."

Comments

[knn54]

The oligarchs (and some officials) are demanding guarantees from the West. This is somewhat reminiscent of the separate negotiations between the Nazis and representatives of British and American intelligence in April 1944.

[ZovSailor]

knn54
Today, 14: 29

It cannot be ruled out that the Kremlin has given certain circles of the liberal oligarchic clan carte blanche to establish unofficial meetings and negotiations in order to advance the agenda of the currently living and enriching domestic oligarchs who have not yet left for good from the people's wealth.

[Fishmashin]

However, fugitive Russian turncoats are weaving intrigues behind the scenes.

[tralflot1832]

Bloomberg is a complete hoax, a "smelly cheese." Since when are they a "truthful" source of information? Bloomberg and these concepts are truly incompatible.

[The Department]

This isn't just a lie, but a deliberate attempt to sell the idea to the Russian audience – that someone is fixing the match again.

[Vyacheslav Boldyrev]

Maybe at least North Korea will declare war on Ukraine and use nuclear weapons.
No one has stolen it from Kim Jong-un for sure!

[HAM]

Could it be Roma who's launching this frenetic "peacekeeping" activity? After all, he's the matchmaker in every "negotiation process"...

[ARIONkrsk]

Quote: HAM

Could it be Roma who's launching this frenetic "peacekeeping" activity? After all, he's the matchmaker in every "negotiation process"...

Roma is already starting to resemble Berezovsky; he has access to every office in the country and wields influence; it seems like his grandfather is already playing the role of decoration.

[AllX_VahhaB]

Quote: HAM

Is it Roma?

He thinks: who knows, maybe they'll send Chelsea back to the back...

[Apprentice_SAM]

Quote from: AllX_VahhaB

He thinks: who knows, maybe they'll send Chelsea back to the back...

First, the Cup will be screwed in, and then - how will it go?

[Derbenev Anton]

The corrupt Abramovichs have shown up again. Incidentally, they're writing that the "citizen bandits" (G. Zheglov) have moved their yachts (purchased with honestly earned money) somewhere near Greece or something. Probably closer to their homeland. Or rather, their homeland. They have several. So, it's not time to rock the boat.

[gsev]

Quote: Anton Derbenev

The corrupt Abramovichs have shown up again.

I think it was Zubkov and Fadeev.

[Derbenev Anton]

Zubok and Fadey. Of the Fadeyevs, I only know Max (not the messenger). He sang with Nargiz.

[Nikita Che]

Well, let's imagine I'm an official. Naturally, I don't care about people or the country; I'm only interested in personal enrichment up to the 25th generation. First and foremost, I'll be hustling to lift personal sanctions against myself and my family, unblocking accounts and property. Naturally, I'll negotiate with scum like myself. Do you think I'm interested in a piece of Donbas? Ha-ha. I'm interested in doing business with European partners, not hobnobbing with some poor scum from third-world countries.

[aybolyt678]

Quote: Nikita Che

Haha. I'm interested in doing business with European partners.

Do you mean selling the contents of Russia's subsoil to Europeans?

[AllX_VahhaB]

I mean, he's transporting something somewhere... A truck driver, apparently...

[your1970]

Quote: Nikita Che

Well, let's imagine that I am an official.

1) "former official" - from the article. That is, one who has been kicked out of politics.
2) If you reach an agreement, you need to come to an agreement with those who ate you (point 1)
3)

Quote: Nikita Che

I'm only interested in personal enrichment up to the 25th generation.

Why would the EU and the US take anything from you? Abramovich is suing the EU in the ECHR over utilities—the rest is out of the question...

[AllX_VahhaB]

Quote: Nikita Che

Well, let's imagine that I'm an official. Of course, I don't care about people or the country; I'm only interested in personal enrichment up to the 25th generation.

Let's first define it. Who exactly are you calling officials? Everyone, from the woman behind the MFC window to the minister? And all of them, 100% of them. I don't care about people or the country, I'm only interested in personal enrichment up to the 25th generation.? And further in the text:

Quote: Nikita Che

First and foremost, I'll be working to lift the personal sanctions against myself and my family, unblocking accounts and property. Naturally, I'll negotiate with scumbags like myself.

I have some vague doubts that the system you described is viable and would exist long enough to reproduce itself...

[Smoked]

Yeah, right. Maybe our intelligence officer was sending this former official, unknown even to Bloomberg himself, across the border on skis for private negotiations. The intelligence officer's heart sank when he saw that the former official couldn't ski at all...

[alexoff]

And who is this official? The former governor of Chukotka? Or perhaps former Prime Minister Kasyanov? Or perhaps former head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Yakemenko?

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

Quote from alexoff

What kind of official is he? The former governor of Chukotka?

At the beginning of the week, Nadezhdin fled to France

[alexoff]

Well, he's a member of parliament, not a government official. A government official is, for example, Butsaev, who fled to the US after a criminal case was opened against him in May.

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

He's still a goat, and journalists don't care if he's a deputy or a bureaucrat.

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

These consultations are taking place within the framework of the so-called “second track diplomacy” – private initiatives

[isv000]

It would be nice to give this "ex" an ice pick or a scarf - it's chilly in the evenings...

[Free Island]

A tie is better. Colombian

[isv000]

Quote: Free Island

A tie is better. Colombian

Anything, as long as it's tight.

[Waifu]

Isn't it some kind of scum like Surkov or Kozak?

[Smoked]

Yeah, sic transit gloria mundi. Well, not about Kozak, but Surkov, that was a whole gray cardigan!

[ALARI]

You say, "Don't talk nonsense," but how did they serve in the cleaning of HIMSELF? Today you're a nobody, and tomorrow? Our latest radiant one is just one of those.

[Free Island]

Negotiations require the participation of official, authorized individuals. But when some "former" (in the drinking game) officials huddle together, knock back a few whiskeys, snort a couple of lines of "white" liquor, chat, and then disperse—that's a mere "get-together," not a negotiation.

[phrases]

The pure, concrete bazaar never ceases, with the entire upper crust trading and haggling for their own ends. People's kosher diplomacy in the depths of the Swiss mines, where strategic decisions are made and the public is fed shady lies.

[faridg7]

Interesting film: European idiots negotiate Russia's capitulation with former Russian officials who fled Russia and call it negotiations with Russia?

[Jacques sekavar]

A trial run to establish contact with the EU, without which the war will continue indefinitely, and without the EU there can be no international recognition, the importance of which Putin spoke about.

[Word]

The identity is not revealed, the Kremlin demons are at work.

[Comrade Kim]

Yes, his identity was revealed by Baba Manya, from the bench near the entrance!
This is the former special representative of the president, Israeli citizen, Roman Abramovich.
Who, if not him, should decide the fate of the Russian people and Russia?
Who, if not Abramovich, would hand-feed tiramisu to the stubborn Russophobes and Banderites?
Well, the glory of Berezovsky, who stopped the capture of Grozny by our troops and prolonged the bloody meat grinder of the Chechen War, does not give me peace.
The Spirit of Anchorage you say?
No, the stench of Khosavyurt!

[alexputnik17]

Quote from alexoff

And who is this official? The former governor of Chukotka? Or perhaps former Prime Minister Kasyanov? Or perhaps former head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Yakemenko?

Chubais?
It's all just pure nonsense. Especially coming from Bloomberg. Everyone knows who was there and where they were. But from Russia, it's a closely guarded secret. Who is Bloomberg supposed to be sharing this information with the average person? Just to stir their brains. Maybe they're from the exes; they meet there every day. What's the big deal? With exes. Who fled and are living there.

[PavelKosse]

the search for paths to peace continues
//////
Our search for paths to peace must be rooted in victories along the Northeast Military District and precision strikes against enemy rear-area targets. For those who doubt this, look at the timeline of the Great Patriotic War to see who forced the enemy to peace and how. And most importantly, how many years of peace we enjoyed as neighbors to Europe after 1945.

[avia12005]

Again, Surkov is in charge, or someone from his team.

[Oleg Valov]

Yeah😏
Let them also hold negotiations with the participation of Chubais and Pugacheva, and Panin is also hanging around somewhere.