Meduza,io
On February 18, the U.S. and Russia held their first official talks since before the Kremlin launched its full-scale war against Ukraine. Despite the fact that Kyiv wasn’t invited to the table, the war dominated the discussions — along with symbolic overtures toward restoring bilateral relations fractured by the conflict. A day later, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a generally positive assessment of the talks, saying, “I rate them highly. They brought results.” But Russia’s pro-war Z-blogger community had a more mixed response. Meduza examines how pro-war Telegram channels are framing the first steps toward negotiations.
Dmitry Seleznev
Writing for the pro-war Telegram channel WarGonzo
Judging by Trump’s statements following the meeting between Russian and U.S. delegations in Saudi Arabia, a scapegoat has been chosen — and it’s Zelensky. Sooner or later, this was bound to happen. In the suicide club he joined on Boris Johnson’s advice in 2022, he’s just been dealt the ace of spades.
Zelensky’s days are numbered, and he’s flailing. For now (for now!), Europe promises him support. But Europe is in a standoff with Trump, and it will soon become completely fractured when right-wing forces take power. Zelensky is sending signals to China, rushing to Turkey to bow before Sultan Erdoğan, searching for new patrons. (Erdoğan pats him consolingly on the shoulder.)
But his days are numbered. And so are the days of Ukraine as it was born in the 1990s — its first partition is coming. Here, America is brazenly pushing aside timid, inclusive Europe without hesitation. Trump greedily opens his mouth and demands 50 percent of Ukraine’s resources. […]
And what about Russia? Russia benefits from keeping this chaos and confusion among its enemies going for as long as possible — waiting for U.S. funding for Ukraine to dry up, for the front lines to finally collapse. So Russia’s future official borders are very unclear. In a way, Zelensky staying in power even serves our interests. Zelensky, resist — this is your last act on stage.
Anastasia Kashevarova
Russian propagandist and war blogger
On the international front, Russia has secured what it wanted in terms of its borders: newly reclaimed old territories that it has no intention of giving up. At the same time, the Kursk region is off the table as a bargaining chip.
Russia’s economy, while struggling, has learned to survive under sweeping sanctions.
And the massive military experience gained — along with the identification of internal enemies, sleeper cells, and systemic problems — is an undeniable advantage. Russia has cleansed itself with blood; now, the priority is to build a new, stronger society.
Negotiations are not seen as a complete halt but merely a pause. The foreign publication The Economist claims that Putin is using this break to prepare for an even larger war. In a way, they’re right. Putin is a brilliant strategist, a master of logic — but short games are not his strength. He tried to avoid war, and that was his mistake — the mistake of an honest man. But if you’re the only one playing fair on the global stage, you will suffer.
Now, the task before the Russian president is to set the right course. If foreign media insist on branding him as a force of global evil, then so be it — but he must be a calculated, cunning one, abandoning any lingering belief in “our partners.”
Callsign Bruce
Telegram channel run by “war correspondent” Alexander Simonov
So, the talks are over, everyone’s happy, everyone’s talking about next steps, positive trends, and so on.
Great. Maybe. Let’s see where this actually leads. After all, the world order doesn’t crumble in an instant like a cookie.
Yes, it’s way too early to draw conclusions, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s some big catch. We’ve been fighting the entire West in Ukraine for three years. Is it finally breaking? Doesn’t seem like it.
Veteran’s Notes (Zapiski Veterana)
Pro-war Telegram channel
Europe is going all-in — disarming itself down to its underwear just to keep the war in Ukraine going. They’re completely abandoning their own security just to continue their Drang nach Osten. Given Britain and the E.U.’s influence in Kyiv, and Zelensky’s own desire to continue the war, this plan is entirely feasible — at least until the fall. He has enough manpower, and Europe will keep sending him ammunition and some cash.
But by fall, where will the front line be? And why would Russia even bother negotiating by then, when Ukraine will have nothing left to hold it?
There’s another interesting aspect to this. The amount of weaponry Europe is sending is impossible to replenish quickly. […] Either Europe keeps talking about building its own army while quietly surrendering its military sovereignty — in which case, at this rate, Trump might just take over Europe himself while everything is on clearance sale. […] Or, Europe will have to open its wallets and buy massive amounts of weapons — at a steep price — from that bastard Trump. Wouldn’t be surprising if that’s exactly what the U.S. president — and close friend of America’s defense industry magnates — has been planning all along, playing up his supposed reluctance to fund Ukraine.
For us, all of this only confirms one thing — no one is going to hand us victory. Not Trump, not anyone else. We’ll have to win it militarily — there is no other way.
Rybar
Pro-war Telegram channel run by a former Russian Defense Ministry employee
As expected, no breakthrough decisions came out of Riyadh — the meeting was merely the first step in a larger negotiation process, where key disagreements over the future of so-called Ukraine will be addressed.
Still, the event at least signals that bilateral consultations on various fronts will continue. And the formula “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” has been conveniently forgotten.