The article centers around a statement made by Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, claiming that while Russia remains open to discussions with the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council (the US, UK, France, and China), the likelihood of a summit under current circumstances is “unrealistic.” This report revisits the origins of the proposed summit, first put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin in January 2020, and attributes the failure of this initiative to reluctance from the US and its allies, emphasizing the impact of the ongoing Ukraine conflict on relations between Russia and the West.
Fact-Checking the Claims
Claim 1: “Russia remains open to discussions with the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council.”
Verification:
This claim is factual. Russia has consistently indicated a willingness to hold high-level diplomatic discussions, and this stance has been reiterated by various Russian officials, including President Putin and Dmitry Peskov. However, the context surrounding these discussions has been complicated by international events, most notably the Ukraine war. Russia has used its openness to discussions as part of its diplomatic posture but has often faced resistance from Western nations that have imposed sanctions on Moscow due to its actions in Ukraine.
Claim 2: “The US and its allies were reluctant to make [the summit] happen.”
Verification:
This claim requires deeper context. While it’s true that the US and some Western nations have hesitated to engage in direct diplomatic discussions with Russia, the reasons behind this reluctance stem primarily from Russia’s actions in Ukraine. After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and escalated hostilities in 2022, Western nations have been wary of engaging in high-level diplomacy that might be perceived as legitimizing Russian territorial aggression. This reluctance is not a blanket refusal to discuss, but rather a strategic response to Russia’s foreign policy moves.
Claim 3: “Relations between Russia, the US, and Western allies have seen a sharp downturn in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.”
Verification:
This claim is factual. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 marked a severe deterioration in Russia-West relations. Western nations have imposed heavy economic sanctions on Russia, while Moscow has framed the conflict as a proxy war orchestrated by the West. This political and military dynamic has severely limited opportunities for diplomatic engagement between the major powers, especially with regard to UN Security Council matters.
Analysis :
1. Framing Russia as the Diplomatic Actor:
One of the key propaganda techniques employed in the article is the framing of Russia as a diplomatic actor that is open to dialogue and cooperation. By repeatedly emphasizing Russia’s readiness to discuss important global issues, the article positions Russia as a constructive force in international relations. This contrasts with the portrayal of Western nations as uncooperative and antagonistic, especially in the context of the UN Security Council summit. The Kremlin seeks to create an image of diplomatic isolation not due to its own actions but rather because of the refusal of Western powers to engage in dialogue.
2. Shifting Blame to Western Reluctance:
The article subtly places the blame for the failure of the proposed summit on the United States and its allies by claiming they were “reluctant” to participate. This framing omits the broader context of Russia’s actions, such as the annexation of Crimea, election interference allegations, and most critically, the invasion of Ukraine. These geopolitical moves by Russia have been the key reasons behind the West’s diplomatic and economic responses. However, by focusing on Western reluctance without mentioning these provocations, the article presents Russia as the more reasonable party.
3. Emphasizing Western Aggression:
The article reinforces the Russian narrative that the Ukraine conflict is a “proxy war waged by the West” and accuses Western nations, particularly the US, of intentional escalation. The term “proxy war” suggests that the West is the primary driver of the conflict, using Ukraine to weaken Russia. This portrayal aligns with long-standing Russian propaganda that seeks to delegitimize Western aid to Ukraine and presents the conflict as not a direct result of Russian invasion, but rather a geopolitical battle instigated by the US and NATO.
4. Limited Acknowledgment of Russian Responsibility:
While the article briefly mentions “rising tensions in Europe,” it avoids discussing Russia’s direct role in escalating those tensions through the buildup of troops on Ukraine’s border and the eventual invasion in February 2022. The Kremlin’s narrative downplays its own aggressive actions, which have been widely condemned by the international community, and instead shifts the focus to Western responses.
