Still No New Hard Russian Line on Negotiating Positions, Only a New Hardline Tone

It has been several weeks since the subject was raised regarding the possibility of a new hard Russian line in the on-going talks to end the catastrophic NATO-Russia Ukrainian War. However arcane the issue and at risk of irritating readers and, most of all, my long-time ‘virtual’ colleague and outstanding diplomatic and international affairs analyst Aleksander Mercouris, which I in no way wish to do, I would like to return to the subject.

In my view, since Alexander first broached the idea prompting me to express a differing point of view back in February, there has yet to emerge a single piece of concrete evidence confirming the existence of a new hardline Russian negotiating position on a single issue being discussed in the talks. Nor has there been any sign of a new issue having been raised, such as an agreement on a European security architecture being made a condition for an agreement to settle the war. I think by adding a new issue or demand Russia indeed would be taking a new hardline.