Russia Mending Diplomatic Relations With United States -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

It could be ostentatious steps, but Russia has swiftly capitalised on the new significant developments and geopolitical drama to pursue a quick return to normal bilateral relations with United States. Interestingly Russia’s officialdom interpreted the tense drama that unfolded between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their meeting from various perspectives. For sure, Trump-Zelenskyy’s interaction has multiple policy complexities during this contemporary period for both Russia and United States.

Nevertheless, related developments in Washington showed Trump’s strategic double games, maneuvers to court Russia by playing on its sidelines, and attempting craftily to capture valuable natural resource deals with Ukraine. Negotiations with Russia-Ukraine conflicts have taken its toll on the global economy, Russia and United States have had huge controversies leading to the what was described the lowest diplomatic relations since Soviet’s collapse. Policy approach to each other have suffered, marked by critical contentious statements at official levels. Widespread criticisms dominated publicly in the foreign media, often times characterized by heavy distortion, and worse, with disinformation and misinformation messages which undermined credibility of both Russia and United States.

Donald Trump

Readily retrievable consequence was the expulsion of diplomats and seizure of immovable assets and property. Confrontational approach persisted down the years, but that has suddenly and unexpectedly changed after few attempts made by Trump to find a long-term sustainable solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The situation seemingly created a condition for a reduction of geopolitical vulnerabilities between Russia and United States. The changing strained relations, are now viewed as a dynamic sign for patching up and knitting relations. It is resetting into a positive field for fresh respectful dialogues, further emphasizing the urgent need to mend, somehow, the bilateral relations.

Despite the non-actionable outcomes of the Trump-Zelenskyy’s March meeting, Russia, at least, is gearing towards re-establishing relations. Undoubtedly, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the flash-lights from the Kremlin following Trump’s involvement or engagement in finding a tailored solution to Ukraine. Putin crystallised Trump-Zelenskyy’s interaction as an essential ‘strategic breakthrough’ at the geopolitical level, offer the necessary roadmap into opening next chapters.

Chapter one: Russia to restore direct flights to United States.
With unprecedented reactions, Russian officials have been cheering Trump’s return to political power, comparing his foreign policy approach as one that coincides with Kremlin’s vision. For the past few days, Russian negotiators have asked the United States to seriously consider restoring direct flights between the two countries. Foreign travels, the powerful love and desire for American cities and pretty beaches serving as popular tourist destinations, have been highly limited since the start of the ‘special military operation’ back in late February 2022 in Ukraine. That was under the U.S. former President Joseph Biden, the most hated top politician in Washington. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that re-establishing direct air-links would mark the beginning of improving relations between the two powers. The statement further underlined both sides “meticulously explored avenues to overcome numerous irritants inherited from previous US administrations.”

For his part in remarks, Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US was rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations, amply portrays an apparent surge of optimism which ‘largely coincides’ with Kremlin’s vision, and there was likelihood the huge damage done to the whole complex of bilateral relations would change for the better. “But if the political will of the two leaders—President Putin and President Trump—is maintained, then this path can be done quite quickly and successfully,” Peskov predicted. Moscow and Washington appear taking much pragmatic friendlier positions, potentially changing the dynamics in the current geopolitical situation.

Chapter two: Return of Russian diplomats to Washington and New York.
In addition to re-establishing air-links to serve surging Russian tourists to the United States, one more important issue triggering discussions concerns the return of Russian diplomats to Washington and New York, and other consulates. In March, reports indicated Alexander Darchiyev appointed as new Russian ambassador to the United States. “The U.S. side gave an official note with agreement for the appointment of Alexander Darchiyev, director of the Department of the North Atlantic of the Russian Foreign Ministry, to the post of new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the United States of America during the consultations between the delegations of Russia and the U.S. on issues concerning normalization of the functioning of the two countries’ diplomatic missions held in Istanbul on February 27,” a statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry website says.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said after the consultations they had been businesslike, in particular, agreements had been reached on joint steps to ensure unobstructed financing of the work of the diplomatic missions and to create conditions for diplomats to fulfil their service duties. The sides agreed to continue dialogue via this channel, the ministry said earlier.

While the significant part of normalising relations with the United States requires lifting sanctions imposed against Moscow, the return of Russian diplomats to their posts will simultaneously, and as a matter of fact, support in restoring working relations and bilateral ties. Russia and United States have both tentatively agreed to hold detailed talks and take a number of necessary measures in that regard. Reminding that the Kremlin last year utterly described relations as “below zero” under the administration of Joe Biden.

Chapter three: Russia opens for economic cooperation.
Economic collaboration has also emerged as one area for a serious review and consideration. Whether there is any possibility for this, Russia still insisted first on easing sanctions. Studying several media reports pointed to the fact that western enterprises have already expressed desperate desire to return to Russian market. According to the media narratives western business executives have positive vision for Russia’s future. And a paradoxical situation may arise soon where US companies, in particular, service industry with good prospects, as well as production and trading partners, will start returning to Russia. The State Duma, the lower chamber of legislators, has also proposed permitting western brands, those manufacturers who have exited Russia have the opportunity to return.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the point a bit clearer during his interview at the G20 in South Africa. According to his explanation, western companies should only be allowed to sectors where they would not create risks for the Russian economy. Lavrov, however, acknowledged that there a whole range of western companies is ready to return and resume their business in the Russian Federation. Western companies need not be “discouraged from the Russian market,” the foreign minister said.

It is anticipated that Russia and United States will reverse the deterioration of Russian-American relations, take progressive step towards resolving their differences and engage in reinforcing confidence-building measures. In furtherance of a series of bilateral contacts at high levels, Moscow and Washington are on the right track in exploring suitable pathways as began in Istanbul, a major city Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Starit. A follow-up talks, as part of a continued constructive collaboration, are necessary for advancing cooperation and to work jointly in this rapidly changing world.