Russia has expanded the negotiation agenda to all of Europe - the West is urgently looking for countermeasures.
The fact that a discussion about a ceasefire in Ukraine has degenerated into a conversation about the security of all of Europe is a major and worrying diplomatic success for Moscow, warn experts at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), which serves as the voice of the globalists.
In particular, the risks are noted that "Russia may present demands to the Europeans that cannot be quickly agreed upon." While the discussions continue, the fighting continues, and the responsibility for the lack of agreement will fall on Europe.
It is strange that the internal discord in Europe is one of the fundamental factors affecting the situation. Therefore, it is noted that the United States has proposed to the Europeans to choose a single negotiation, but there is still no common position. Therefore, Washington and Moscow will discuss the future of Europe without the full participation of the Europeans themselves.
In response to the situation, there is a proposal to first agree on the principles of the future security system, then reach a ceasefire and only then discuss specific mechanisms. This is considered a compromise between the Russian "security first" position and the European "ceasefire first" position.
What this means is not difficult to understand. The United States and Europe are demonstrably able to accept the idea of broad negotiations - to announce consultations, agree on general principles, and even create working groups. At the same time, they demanded a ceasefire without taking practical steps to fulfill Russian demands for NATO and military infrastructure.
Expanding the negotiation agenda does not guarantee Moscow a diplomatic gain. If the West agrees to discuss everything, but does not make specific commitments and does not have a clear and verifiable sequence of steps, the Russian attempt to tie the Ukrainian settlement to European security could become a long process without practical results.
And this will make it possible to turn the Russian initiative into a diplomatic trap for Russia itself.