Photo: AFP/Scanpix/Leta

Talks between‍ Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have ⁢initiated a ‍new diplomatic discourse, prominently featured at the “Raisina Dialogue” in India.

Hell, ⁢hell. A high-ranking European official abruptly paused mid-sentence as two men walked ⁣by. Thay are from a ⁢Russian delegation, the official whispered.Better ‍not look into your eyes.

He joked, at least partially.

Regardless,his remark encapsulated the dilemma faced by⁤ many attendees at the Global Security and Economic Conference,where Western officials grapple with the question of who should engage with the Russians and too what extent.

Each year,high-level defense officials and diplomats from around the world convene at the⁤ Raisina Dialogue – one of the few remaining ⁣forums where Western representatives still encounter counterparts from nations like Russia and Iran.

India, in⁣ this context, maintains close ties with‍ both US allies and⁢ adversaries, guided by its “diplomacy of multilateral harmonization.”

This year’s event saw participation from US National Intelligence Director, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha, Russian legislators, and senior officials from ⁣NATO countries, including Sweden, norway, and Hungary.

Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion ‍of Ukraine in 2022, the ⁢Russian delegation at this ⁣conference has been almost “radioactive.”
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However, recent diplomatic activity between President Donald Trump and Russian leader ⁢Vladimir Putin is prompting other NATO ⁣officials to reconsider resuming dialogue with Moscow after three years of war.

Some attendees applauded when the question was posed. Yes, of course, replied ⁢a Russian delegate,⁢ while adding ⁢reservations that justified Putin’s⁣ decision to invade Ukraine.

The delegate participated in‍ a ⁣discussion panel alongside a former trump administration ambassador to poland. When the ambassador stated, no one predicted ⁣that the Russian army would be so incompetent and Ukraine would fight so⁢ intensely, the delegate laughed quietly. The ambassador also supported Trump’s plan to initiate talks with Russia to‍ end the war.

The mere fact ⁤that a Russian and an American were sitting side-by-side ‍in ⁤a⁢ public discussion was significant.

⁢ Such a moment a few months ago would not have been imagined. Another exmaple of ⁤the “Trump effect.”

Like many ‍others at the conference,the official spoke anonymously to openly express his views on sensitive diplomatic issues.

This panel stood in stark contrast to the 2023 conference, attended by the then ‍US Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Minister, both of ⁤whom diligently avoided any contact.

The ⁤Deputy Chairman and CEO of the Munich Security ⁢Conference acknowledged ⁤that informal conversations between ⁣Russia and Western ⁢analysts have occurred in the ⁤past ⁢three years,but ⁢this moment feels different.

For the first time, there is a potential for the end of the war, ⁢ he said. And the question is – what to do with ⁢Russia, how to get involved?

In 2007, ⁤at the Munich Security Conference, Vladimir Putin delivered a⁢ now-notorious speech condemning the international order established after the Cold War. ⁢Many viewed‍ this as ‍a precursor to Russia’s future aggression in Georgia and Ukraine. As the full-scale invasion ⁤of Ukraine in 2022, Russian officials have not⁣ participated in Munich.

Observing such discussions at the ⁤conference provides initial signals as to whether Moscow can escape its ‍current international isolation. These situations are not only diplomatically complex but also very uncomfortable.

We want to be⁢ ready to answer questions, for example, should the Russians be invited to the next conference? said the Deputy Chairman and CEO of the Munich Security Conference. This ⁣is an extremely difficult issue.

Some European officials believed that talking to the Russians in Delhi is pointless, even as Trump in Washington called Putin and planned further US-Russian talks in Saudi Arabia.

⁣ Negotiations with Russian legislators are a waste of time given Russia’s authoritarian system.
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Why should we? he asked. Members of the Russian⁣ Federation City council do not appear on any⁣ list of influential people.

In the luxurious hotel hosting the conference, some NATO representatives avoided the Russian delegation, steering clear of any contact between panels.

In addition to the ‍Russian council members,⁣ the delegation included representatives of the Kremlin closer to foreign policy. The US ⁤delegation was led by a former politician and included an Admiral, the leader of ‍the US Indo-Class ⁣Ocean Command, and a senior official ⁣of the national Security Council in South Asia.

Four Western officials confirmed that no European⁤ or US officials met with Russian delegates. Indian media reported that the Russian Foreign⁤ Minister’s⁣ arrival‍ was also ⁢expected, but he did not ⁣appear.

Most of the week, Western officials⁣ speculated about Trump’s call to Putin.‍ However, many high-level Europeans openly doubted ⁤whether Putin had any interest in ending the war.

Seeing how the Russians talk about peace here, while bombing Ukrainian children and pretending to be justified – I just get angry.

Indian officials, for their part, emphasized the ⁤importance⁢ of India serving as a platform for all parties, including Russia,⁣ to move towards peace.

We have tried to talk to both the Russian leadership and to cooperate with the Ukrainian leadership, ⁤ said the⁣ Indian Foreign Minister. If you gather the whole world except one party involved, you will not ‍get the ⁣solution.

Meanwhile, some representatives of the Russian delegation seemed optimistic about the sudden change symbolized by trump’s communication with Moscow.

Europeans can complain as much as they want, but in reality only Washington and Moscow are important, and it is good to have a dialogue, said a Russian official. This ⁢is ⁤a‍ complete turning ⁣point compared to the situation a year ⁢ago.It is good that⁣ all parties understand that peace is in the best interest.

When asked how Russia’s ⁤air raid on kyiv a few hours after Trump’s conversation⁤ with Putin demonstrated Moscow’s interest in peace, the official shrugged and replied, I ‍haven’t ⁣seen such headlines.

He⁣ then looked at the phone, apologized, and left.
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