Mattis and Volker will be in solidarity with the issue of lethal weapons to the US. Strong moves in this field, Moscow has no more left. But knowing the nature of Putin - he can easily start a new conflict, and thereby a new party in another part of the world, believes the opposition Russian politician Ilya Ponomarev.
Kurt Volker and Vladislav Surkov at the joint meeting in the first place represented the leaders of their countries. In this sense, the main task of the meeting is to establish a long working contact, exchange confidential messages that most likely were from one and the other. And, accordingly, a plan was outlined for further joint steps. But the decision will still be made at the highest level, informs the Observer.
These decisions, I think, will concern the Minsk agreements. Although Surkov first stated after the meeting that both sides adhere to the Minsk agreements, he only stressed the new realities: the Americans are ready to revise them and try the water: how will the Putin team headed by Surkov lead, who is the architect of the current impasse?.
Plus, the Russian president has himself trapped, when at every corner he said that Europeans are pulled by strings by the Americans. Accordingly, they should be discussed with this topic. And then there is such a figure as Volcker, in the rank of special representative of Trump, plus a number of Tillerson's statements - in fact, all this indicates that the Americans are ripe before the decision to become a negotiating party. But Russia, in fact, it is unprofitable, because the Americans take a much tougher stance. Now they have no special interest in good relations with Russia, unlike the Germans and the French, who are present in the. Norman format.
So the presence of Americans in negotiations for Russia is not necessary, but it is rather difficult to abandon your words. Therefore, the Volker-Surkov meeting probably discussed the possibility and potential format for including Americans in negotiations. But the task of the Russian side was not to allow this in reality. Although it is unlikely now in the forces of the Kremlin.
On account of something more, for example, the curtailment of the Russian military campaign in the Donbas, then of course, this will always be talked about and repeated in public. But at the same time, all the negotiators will understand that this is unlikely to happen, and it's not in the Donbas, but in more strategic things - in general, the Russia-NATO-Russia-EU relations, the overall security design in the world.
A few days later, August 24, Kurt Volker will attend the military parade in Kiev. There is nothing surprising, he seems to be in the position it is laid. The more events he will attend, the more support will be shown to Ukraine. This is good, and this is his direct task. Together with him on the parade will also be the head of the Pentagon, James Mattis. Here its main goal is to discuss the issue of providing lethal weapons to Ukraine. I think this will happen in the near future, and for sure Matthias and Volcker here will be in solidarity.
Moscow's reaction to this is interesting. I think there are no strong moves in this field. But we know the nature of Putin - he can easily start a new conflict, and thereby a new party in another part of the world. On the mountain, civilians of the affected country, Russian taxpayers and future widows of regular soldiers who fell for other people's adventures.