The narrative of a “dialogue with Russia” has always been popular in Europe. It has been especially popular since 2014 when relations between Russia and the West started to dramatically deteriorate because of Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea and further invasion of eastern Ukraine.
OP-ED
Anton Shekhovtsov: The self-unfulfilling prophecy of a ‘dialogue with Russia’
People are reflected in a puddle as they walk on Kyiv’s Independence Square on June 5, 2021. This already topsy-turvy summer of unusually cool and wet weather so far promises to bring some other jarring events for Ukraine. The nation will be on the outside looking in as G7 members, NATO members and U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet later in June. Meanwhile, Ukraine is drumming up political support for its August Crimean Platform in hopes of regaining control of the peninsula stolen by Russia in 2014. And, come Aug. 24, 2021, Ukraine will see who shows up for its 30th Independence Day festivities.
