Rosenberg: How Putin and Trump shook up the world in a week

Steve Rosenberg, the Russia Editor, reports that top officials from the United States and Russia recently gathered in Riyadh, marking the first high-level meeting in years. Six men, dressed in formal suits, sat around a large brown table decorated with white and green flowers. This meeting is significant as it reflects a shift in the relationship between the two nations. The events of the past week have been reminiscent of the famous title by American journalist John Reed, who wrote about the Russian Revolution, 'Ten Days That Shook The World. ' However, for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, just a week was enough to create a stir. The sequence of events began with a phone call on February 12, where Trump and Putin expressed their intentions to improve relations. This was followed by discussions at the Munich Security Conference, which highlighted a growing divide between Europe and America. The meeting in Saudi Arabia was the first direct contact between the two countries since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This week has dramatically altered traditional alliances, leaving Europe and Ukraine in a state of uncertainty, raising concerns about European security, and positioning Russia at the forefront of global politics without making any concessions. On Wednesday morning, Russian newspapers prominently featured images of senior Russian and American officials engaged in discussions at the negotiating table in Riyadh. The Kremlin aims to convey to the Russian public and the international community that Western attempts to isolate Russia due to the war in Ukraine have failed. Russian media are optimistic about the potential for improved relations with Washington, while simultaneously criticizing European leaders and Ukraine. A pro-Kremlin tabloid, Moskovsky Komsomolets, suggested that Trump would have to make concessions to Russia because they are currently winning in Ukraine. The article stated, 'He will make concessions. Not at America's expense, but at the expense of Europe and Ukraine. ' For a long time, Europe has viewed itself as the civilized world, but now it seems to have lost its standing. In the streets of Moscow, there is not much celebration. Instead, people are cautiously observing to see if Trump will indeed become a friend to Russia and if he can help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. Nadezhda, a local resident, expressed skepticism, saying, 'Trump is a businessman. He's only interested in making money. I don't think things will be any different. There's too much that needs to be done to change the situation. ' Giorgi, another resident, added, 'It's high time we stopped being enemies. ' Trump has faced questions regarding Ukraine's absence from the US-Russia talks. Irina, a Moscow resident, shared her hopes, stating, 'We dream that these negotiations will bring peace. It's a first step. And maybe this will help our economy. Food and other goods keep going up in price here. That's partly because of the special military operation and the general international situation. ' Trump and Putin have already spoken on the phone, and their teams have met in Saudi Arabia, with a presidential summit anticipated soon. Recently, the newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets humorously speculated on the content of the phone call between the two leaders. They imagined a conversation where Trump said, 'Vladimir! You've got a cool country and I've got a cool country. Shall we go and divide up the world? ' Putin responded, 'What have I been saying all along? Let's do it! ' While this may be a lighthearted take, it reflects the curiosity and uncertainty surrounding the future of US-Russia relations.