Russia moved to the multipolar East
For the first time since February, Vladimir Putin met with a large group of rulers from non-hostile powers. Probably, the Kremlin expected that the Samarkand summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) would rebuff the West and take Russia under its wing.
If these calculations were justified, it was only in the sense that there was nothing probable for a boycott in Samarkand. All colleagues communicated with Putin more or less friendly or as correct as possible.
Let’s leave in force the subtleties of light, volumes, according to the value attached. Let’s not call a “flashmob” a slight delay in bilateral meetings with the head of Russia of the leaders of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan. The summit is a troublesome business, the participants always get something from the meeting. And even more so, we will not look for some complex subtext in the fact that in bright light in public, either Erdogan feels Putin at hand, or Putin feels Erdogan. The purely protocol side of the event, usually perceived as boring, this time was the most interesting.
Let’s start with the fact that the main event of this summit took place on the eve of its start. On the way to Samarkand, President Xi Jinping briefly stopped by the capital of Kazakhstan. The short visit was arranged very pompously and was accompanied by ambiguous statements.
“Chinese side,” says the official Chinese about about the visit – sensitive to the Kazakh side, aimed at protecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial belonging of the country … Chinese-Kazakhstan friendship is indestructible … “
Moscow was, of course, the obvious destination for considerations. Which, before the SCO summit, was sent an order not to build its “sovereignty and territorial territory” with any plans that were not coordinated with Beijing.
After such an input, Putin’s words are no longer surprising, imaginary at the beginning of the Samarkand conversation with President Xi: “The balanced fate of the people in connection with the Ukrainian crisis is highly appreciated. We understand your questions and concerns regarding this matter. During today’s meeting, of course, we are explaining in detail and approaching the solution of this issue, about the beginning of this war and about it.”
The clarifications requested and the answers to the Chinese questions were heard behind closed doors, and we do not know how they were formulated. But one can see the complete detachment of Beijing from Moscow today, although the Kremlin is entrusted with obtaining China’s support.
And the interview with the government of the second Asian superpower, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was also tonally colored in an unusual way for the Kremlin. modi appointed interlocutor that “the current era is not an era of wars.” I know about your situation in connection with the conflict in Ukraine, which you constantly talk about. We offer everything to make it available as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, only against one side of Ukraine, the leadership announced its abandonment of the negotiation process, declared that they want to achieve their goals by military means, as they say, on the battlefield.”
An arrogantly edifying tone is not uncommon in Indian foreign policy. On the contrary, it constantly resounds in dialogues with other powers, especially Western ones. But so far this has not been extended to the Russian Federation. The case, Modi, like Xi, came to the conclusion that the status of the Russian president was shaken, and decided to let him know this.
It is clear that neither India, nor even China, is going to boycott Russia. They just got that they can not get access to the problems of the Russian Federation, that they intend to use it only to the extent that it is paid in their interests.
An insignificant part of Putin’s diplomacy about the “multipolar world” turned into the fact that the Russian Federation, having broken with the West, is now becoming only one of the poles of the East. Moreover, lonely and, apparently, not particularly, as the procedure for a friendly registration, which took place in Samarkand, showed.
It is not Putin, but Erdogan who feels like a rising star in the East now. Enough subscriber to the photo, where he sits with majestic gaiety behind a closed place, surrounded by other rulers.
His interview with the PBS television company, from which both Russian and Western propaganda cuts out excerpts suitable for themselves, emphasizes the fundamental equidistance and the desire for maximum maximum benefits for themselves. Turkey posted that it was not bogged down in anything, and with might and main these clothes. In no case should one get involved in other people’s demands and put them to one’s own use, naturally, by China, India, and other SCO powers.
We repeat that the East is a delicate matter. In fact, there is just little subtlety. As well as sentimentality. But at least more than enough cold-blooded practicality.
Vitaly Grankin