“Diplomacy Has Lost All Meaning”: Expert on Negotiations with Russia

Political strategist Mikhail Sheitelman explained that a diplomatic solution to the conflict is something that works among civilized people, but it does not work with Russians, whose response is to strike the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, reports Politeka.

He discussed this on his blog.

According to the expert, accusations that Zelensky’s letter to Putin was “undiplomatic” are misplaced because diplomacy functions only when war is conducted within established rules. In other words, he explains, Napoleon writes a letter to Alexander, Alexander writes back to Napoleon, and then their armies meet on the battlefield rather than hanging city residents. That is when there is room for noble diplomacy. Moreover, the expert emphasizes that before World War II, civilians in Europe generally did not take part in wars, and there was no systematic destruction of entire populations.

“So what language of diplomacy are we talking about now? Today, diplomacy is nothing more than a cover for scoundrels. Do you believe Lavrov speaks the language of diplomacy? It is a cover for scoundrels. Do you consider Lavrov a minister rather than a criminal who should be put on trial? A cover for scoundrels, nothing more. Diplomacy has lost all meaning,” Mikhail Sheitelman stresses.

Diplomacy, he argues, is for civilized people. For example, when Tusk says that the issue involving the unit named after UPA heroes must be resolved, that is diplomacy. Likewise, the expert adds, when Ukrainian drones are diverted by Russian electronic warfare systems and end up in Romania or Greece, Ukraine acknowledges responsibility and apologizes because this is a dispute among civilized nations.

“Is it really necessary to speak the language of diplomacy with Russians who bomb the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant? Do you seriously believe they can understand that language? Is Nebenzya a diplomat? Is Lavrov a diplomat? Is Zakharova a diplomat? This is the face of Russian diplomacy. They have no others. Are we supposed to talk to them as if they were civilized people? In my opinion, we should not,” Mikhail Sheitelman concludes.