The conversation is over. Vladimir Putin did not tell us about its content, and he shouldn’t have to. But there is a set of words and phrases that make it clear that we should not expect any swift consequences. This vocabulary is used when it is necessary to reassure and promise nothing. The conversation was informative, frank and generally useful. It is necessary to “determine the most effective ways of moving toward peace.”
Putin’s speech also included a sign of a long process – a “memorandum.” Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a possible future peace treaty. There they will define the principles of settlement, the terms of the agreement “for a certain period of time if appropriate agreements are reached.”
If a “memorandum” appears in the negotiators’ arsenal, it’s a goner. This term can mean endless talks. The teams will agree on a memorandum of intent (also not in a hurry) and start looking for compromises “that would suit all sides.”
We await Trump’s version.
This really highlights how diplomatic language can sometimes be used to stall rather than solve issues. The idea of a memorandum as a way to prolong talks without real progress is something I hadn’t thought about before. It’s frustrating to see phrases that sound hopeful but actually signal endless delays in reaching peace 🤔
This really feels like a frustrating cycle where hope gets dangled but no real progress happens 😞. The word memorandum just sounds like a fancy way to buy more time without any real actions, and it’s exhausting to watch these endless rounds of talks with no concrete results 😩. I hope that someday leaders find the courage to push for actual peace instead of just words and promises 🙏✨. It’s hard not to feel stuck in a loop of waiting when so much is at stake.
This article highlights how diplomatic language often masks slow progress and cautious promises. The mention of a memorandum usually signals drawn-out negotiations rather than quick resolutions. It’s frustrating to see such talks stretch on without clear outcomes.
{comment:Another day, another speech full of warm promises and vague timelines, and the word memorandum still sounds like a free pass to delay. Putin says he is ready to work on a memorandum, but that line about it being a set of words to avoid swift consequences nails the mood. The idea of laying out principles for a future peace treaty for a period of time if appropriate agreements are reached reads like a script for endless meetings while real people suffer. And yes, we get a wink to Trump’s version as if the whole process needs a reality TV twist. 🙄}