Trump loses in hockey: why Putin tied the topic of sports to the negotiations on the war

Hockey in the conversation of Putin and Trump was not accidental, says politician Mustafa Nayem. It is the image of the old good "friendship of peoples", which in both old ones is caused by nostalgic associations with the era of "Cold War" - but without sanctions, without war and nuclear threats. So Russia tries to regain its recognition in the world. If you read the Kremlin's full statement on the results of the conversation of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, try to look at it differently.

Start from the end. The most important thing for Putin is exactly there. And this is not Ukraine, not the Middle East and, imagine, do not even whistle. It is important that there was no joint communique in the results of the conversation, and therefore, each side released everything that was more important for it.

In the final part, which is well remembered, the Kremlin expressed unconcealed joy from the US and Russia solidarity voting at the UN, about mutually beneficial cooperation in the economy (this is in conversation with the president of the country that has apparently the largest package of sanctions !!) and… Hockey. Moscow builds its strategy carefully but persistently. There they understand the effect of the US position on the resolution in Ukraine.

It could be silent, it has been a long time, but it was this moment that the Kremlin brought to the final text of the conversation with Trump. And this is not a subtle hint of a split of the event: if the White House begins to act in the UN separately from Brussels and London, you can forget about a single anti -Russian line. But Washington is not just indifferent to the old rules - he is on them as much as Moscow. Therefore, agreements are possible between Russia and the US.

However, geopolitics is not the only motive. The statement refers to the "normalization of bilateral relations in the light of special (what?!?!) Responsibility of Russia and the US. " This is a key point. The Kremlin is desperate to return to the global economy, even in spite of the war. Russia is vital to become part of the world market again. Therefore, sanctions should weaken.

All conversations about "prospects of cooperation" are nothing but a veiled proposal: you can agree, find opportunities, turn the equipment. Make Some Deal. And that's where hockey appears. But it's not about sports. It is the image of the old good "friendship of peoples", which in both old ones is caused by nostalgic associations with the era of "Cold War" - but without sanctions, without war and nuclear threats. Russia tries to look "normal" country again.