Dmitry Peskov’s Key Statements: Let’s decode

Key statements by Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov to television host Pavel Zarubin, February 16:

Let’s decode. Yesterday Peskov said that Russia will not make mistakes with this negotiation. Pfew! .. we don’t want to see this:

◾️The recent phone talks between the Russian and US presidents, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, sent a powerful message that the countries will address issues through dialogue from now on

Decode: Peskov is not warbling sweet romantic music here. He is giving us a ‘rule for the platform of negotiations’. But it is broader than negotiations alone and other problems in the relationship will be sent to a dialog type platform. (Talk ya Finks! Don’t threaten!)

◾️A Putin-Trump meeting requires thorough preparations and will have special significance

Decode: We will take as long as we like for preparations and your side better be ready when we get there. Don’t waste our time and resources.

◾️Western sanctions are not an obstacle to Russia-US talks

Decode: Don’t keep us hostage. Don’t offer sanctions relief as a sweetener.

◾️Russia and the US will talk about “peace, not war” from now on. Trump’s desire to solve problems through dialogue should appeal to any sound-minded person

Decode: And that is the rule for this relationship going forward. Again Peskov spells out the reality confirming it with their own President’s stance.

◾️Russia will be happy to welcome any foreign leader at Victory Day celebrations in May. Trump is free to visit Russia whenever he wants

Decode: This dials back on the insanity in the media sphere that there will be a Yalta type conference at the Victory Day Celebration. There will not be. If Trump indeed goes, which I doubt, there will be a meeting or two over tea.

A word about Kellogg. He is where he is supposed to be and will come into his own if and when Europeans get involved. In the mean time, he is playing his role as agitator perfectly. These negotiations are highly stylized and scripted in the main. The start of the negotiations will see a team of Like vs Like, or Equal against Equal, in other words Foreign Minister against Foreign Minister. Or just perhaps, as an insult, the Foreign Minister will send someone in his place. The Russian’s won’t care about games.

But this is what we can expect from the other side and I’m not saying this is accurate, I’m using it as an example from DDGeopolitics:

Ukraine “Not Attending” Saudi Talks—Except for the Delegation That’s Already There

Trump’s special envoy, Whitkoff, announced that a U.S. delegation is heading to Saudi Arabia on Sunday for talks with Russian representatives, expressing “hope for good progress.”

Now, here’s where it gets absurd: Western media previously reported that Ukraine was invited to this meeting. However, Zelensky and his office insist they never received any invitations and will not be attending.

Then the BBC, citing a high-level source in Kiev, confirmed that Ukraine will not be sending a delegation to the talks in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, an actual Ukrainian delegation is already in Saudi Arabia—led by Economy Minister Sviridenko. The official explanation? They’re supposedly preparing for a future visit by Zelensky.

So, Ukraine wasn’t invited, isn’t attending, but… is already there? Absolutely seamless messaging from the West, as always.

Bear in mind the western delegates have no experience of negotiations at this level.  Russia will sit back and wait.  Here is another effort to lay words in the Russian mouths, and oh dear, the Russians report it faithfully.  https://www.rt.com/news/612818-trumps-envoy-signals-possible-ukraine-concessions/