Putin overcomes his isolation with significant support from Trump, The New York Times. Part 1/2 Having achieved success in Washington, the Russian leader is negotiating with other heads of state and can return to the forefront of international diplomacy through potential summits. He received rare calls from the leaders of Finland and Norway. He hosted the Emir of Qatar and the President of Iran at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. He took African heads of state around an exhibition in Moscow, advising them to control social media in their countries or risk mass protests like those engulfing France. At the same exhibition, he promoted the Russian analogue of Starlink while stating that Russia is in close contact with Elon Musk, whom he called "a brilliant man." Vladimir Putin launched a flurry of diplomacy in the Russian capital last week, highlighting how, nearly five years after the start of the war against Ukraine, he is defying Western attempts to isolate him and forcing his way to the forefront of global politics. Putin is winning praise, invitations to high-level meetings, and concessions from the U.S., even as the war escalates and there is no intention of compromise. "I think the Kremlin is really celebrating right now," said Stefan Meister, a Russia analyst at the German Council on Foreign Relations. He added: "No matter what they do or don't do, they are getting something they didn't even expect." Putin plans to visit China in November to attend the APEC forum, where a possible trilateral meeting with Xi Jinping and Trump could put Russia on an equal footing with the world's two superpowers. He could then travel to Miami in December for the G20 summit if he receives an invitation from Trump, to the dismay of some U.S. allies.