After a long time tarnishing relations Russia has expressed an intention to present more positive cooperation programme to the US. The cooperation urges both sides to substitute the "two-track approach," Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said Thursday speaking at the Cosmos Club.  His remarks have also been quoted at the Russian embassy’s Facebook page.

According to the envoy, since Joe Biden took office "the broad outline of the new administration’s policy towards Russia is emerging." "In essence, it is the old two-track approach," the diplomat has pointed out. "It implies cooperation with us on the issues of American interest. At the same time the concept of deterring Russia will be used as much as possible," the diplomat has added that. 

 The envoy underlined, "such approach is not the best option for the two permanent members of the UN Security Council that bear particular responsibility for international peace and security." "We will try to convince our colleagues to change their minds and will also propose a positive agenda of interaction," he added.

The Russian diplomat's remarks have raised several important questions. In an interview with Eurasia Diary, Ukrainian political expert Vadym Triukhan has clarified the questions. 

- Russia has offered the United States a more positive cooperation programme. The statement came from Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov. Will Russia's offer of this cooperation help reduce sanctions against it?

- Russian Ambassador Antonov's speech at the Washington Cosmos Club should not be viewed as a self-sufficient foreign policy action. Before him was published the Joint Statement of the Member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on ensuring comprehensive stability in the world. And even earlier, on January 26, after the annoying proposals of the Russian side, the presidents of Russia and the United States had a telephone conversation, the press releases on the results of which, published by the Kremlin and the White House, were radically different from each other. At the same time, before speaking with Vladimir Putin, Joseph Biden “synchronised watches” in telephone conversations with his European allies - the leaders of Great Britain, Germany and France, and with the NATO Secretary General.

The current wave of Russia's foreign policy activity is easy to explain. Despite the widespread fake statements by propagandists about the insignificance of the sanctions imposed by Europeans, Americans and their allies for Russia, the socio-economic situation there is deteriorating. Internal political tensions are also growing, including in connection with the detention of Alexei Navalny.

Realizing that today's Putin's Russia is no longer capable of withstanding a new arms race, as well as new, more painful sanctions, and has been implemented with zeal for almost 15 years, since the famous Munich speech of Putin in 2007. At the same time, the Kremlin is not ready to make any concessions to the Americans, which it demonstrates with enviable constancy.

In fact, the latest public statements by Russian representatives indicate a desire to agree with the West on a new foreign policy algorithm of actions - a kind of Realpolitik in Russian. Its essence boils down to the following, - "you do not bother us to do everything we want and where we want, and we will think about leaving you alone for a while and not interfering in your affairs."

Nevertheless, one should not expect any relaxation in the sanctions policy of the West in general, and the United States in the first place. Nobody believes Putin anymore. Except for individual individuals who are then given positions in Russian state-owned companies for "dancing on blood". Moreover, over the next 90 days, another package of restrictions should be expected in connection with the resumption of the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 geopolitical project, the Navalny case, as well as Russian interference in the internal affairs of the United States and some other countries. These decisions have already been announced and no one is going to cancel them under any circumstances.

- The Ambassador noted that this cooperation would be in the interests of the United States, and at the same time, the Ambassador said that they would try to convince their Russian colleagues to change their minds and propose a positive agenda. What do you think the Russian diplomat means by that?

- This is a bluff. Representatives of Russia are trying to use a method known in the art of negotiation called "cling to the strong." It is not the United States or ordinary Americans who suffer from the sanctions. They inflict damage on Russia as a state, Russian oligarchs and, to our great regret, ordinary citizens of Russia, who, in fact, have long since become hostages of the state stolen from them by Putin. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly understand that behind the beautiful diplomatic curtsies one can see Putin's plea - "remove the sanctions from us, please!"

Besides that, it should be borne in mind that non-Americans are proposing some kind of hypothetical "positive agenda." The Russians themselves are trying to impose it. Moreover, its essence does not correspond to the shell. They say - “don't bother us to carry out political repressions in Russia, this is our garden”, offering in return - “and we will not bother you with your internal political affairs”. And after all, "exchange" is offered absolutely not equivalent. They say “let's have a dialogue on cybersecurity,” and at the same time they regularly attack government agencies in the United States, European and other countries. And so on down the list.

So there is no “positive agenda” in nature, and as long as Vladimir Putin and his “Ozero Cooperative” are in power in Russia. We are talking about another attempt by the Kremlin to beat the opponent, as in a game of thimbles, to cheat the Americans, and also try to prevent the strengthening of the powerful transatlantic alliance, which was somewhat weakened under Trump, with the leadership of the President of the United States Biden.

- What do you think is the reason for the softening of Russia's political position towards the United States? If the US accepts Russia's offer of cooperation, will the issue of the Ukrainian Donbass be included? In what format can this cooperation change relations in the Black Sea as a whole?

- The reason is obvious. Vladimir Putin and his entourage want to stay in power in Russia. For this they are ready for anything. This includes starving its own population and using it as "cannon fodder", playing games with the leaders of the Western world, using corruption methods, cheating, conspiring and so on.

But times have changed. Nobody will go to Munich 2.0. And there will be no exchange of zones of influence. Especially considering that the Russians themselves are not ready for this. They are told - "Get out of the Crimea!" At the same time, not just anyone, but the leaders of leading Western countries, including in public. A fresh example is the statement personally by the President of the United States Before Biden, made by him on February 27 in connection with the 7th anniversary of the beginning of Russia's occupation of Crimea.

They also answer - the question is closed. They are told - "Get out of Donbass!" And they answer - "we are not there, let the Ukrainians come to an agreement among themselves." At the same time, they use their puppets in ORDLO, through the FSB and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense to further destroy the infrastructure of Donbass, disrupt the truce and kill civilians.

In fact, in recent speeches and public comments, Putin and other representatives of the Russian Federation tend not to even mention the word Ukraine. By the way, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova are countries that cannot renew their territorial integrity solely "thanks" to the efforts of the same Russia.

And cooperation between the United States and Russia will continue. Only this is not cooperation in essence. This is interaction on issues that are of interest to Washington. But not at the expense of Ukraine, Azerbaijan or the entire Black Sea region as a whole.

Such is he, the modern world. A world of hybrid wars, hybrid challenges and threats. A world of hybrid "cooperation" between those who are ready to destroy each other at any moment.

By Elnur Enveroglu

Eurasia Diary