RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: ⚡️ JUST IN: Backchannel negotiations to end the war have begun American media reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is meeting with a Russian delegation to discuss Trump’s peace plan. Shortly before that, the CIA director traveled to Moscow. Today, the leader of Russia’s friendly superpower ally — India — openly and publicly called on Putin to end the war. In response, the Russian dictator said that “Russia is moving toward ending the Ukrainian conflict.”

⚡️ JUST IN: Backchannel negotiations to end the war have begun

American media reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is meeting with a Russian delegation to discuss Trump’s peace plan.

Shortly before that, the CIA director traveled to Moscow.

Today, the leader of Russia’s friendly superpower ally — India — openly and publicly called on Putin to end the war.

In response, the Russian dictator said that “Russia is moving toward ending the Ukrainian conflict.”NEXTA (@nexta_tv)Backchannel diplomacy with the Kremlin no longer works

John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow once again highlighted the problem: even behind closed doors, Russian authorities continue to speak the language of propaganda rather than look for compromise, writes Alexander Baunov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin.

According to him, Moscow spent years convincing the West that, publicly, it was forced to observe diplomatic etiquette, while behind the scenes it was supposedly ready for an honest and pragmatic dialogue.

But after the full-scale war began, the opposite turned out to be true — Putin and his inner circle barely distinguish between their public and private rhetoric.

Something similar had happened before. During a five-hour meeting with Emmanuel Macron shortly before the invasion, Putin did not discuss how to prevent war, instead launching into historical lectures and complaints about the West.

US diplomats also said before the invasion that Russian officials would literally read out pre-prepared talking points and barely engage in substantive dialogue.

That’s why a secret meeting with the Kremlin does not, by itself, mean that peace is any closer. According to Baunov, Moscow can use closed-door talks to issue warnings or resolve specific issues such as prisoner exchanges, but on the main question — ending the war — it is increasingly difficult for it to offer anything other than its own demands.

“Backchannel diplomacy” doesn’t fail because the West is unwilling to listen to Russia. The problem is that behind closed doors, the Kremlin is increasingly saying the same things it says in front of the TV cameras.—  https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/2094440083130847522

— @nexta_tv Aug 31, 2026