Say what you like, but politics over the past half century has changed beyond recognition.
Yesterday Geneva met the big Russia-US summit, as it did in 1955.
Then, however, at the big table, the collective West was represented by three leaders: Eisenhower from the USA, Eden from Great Britain and Fore from France.
From our side, Nikita Khrushchev led the negotiations, and next to him sat Molotov, Bulganin and Zhukov - people who wrote the history of the victory over Nazi Germany.
Recent allies in the fight against fascism have tried to negotiate the fate of Europe in the context of the Cold War.
Sixty-six years ago, ideological divisions seemed, and were, insurmountable.
The USSR was accused of enslaving Eastern Europe, NATO drew plans for the defeat of our country, and the whole world lived in fear of a third world - this time already nuclear - war.
66 years later, when there are no ideological differences, geopolitical differences define the second Cold War. At the summit table, the results of which are so important for the security of the whole world, there is neither Boris Johnson, nor Emmanuel Macron, nor Angela Merkel (in 1955 Germany was still defeated in her rights for the atrocities committed in 1938-1945). The United States continues to behave like a hegemon and makes it clear to allies from the EU and NATO: who pays, who is better armed, who has deployed troops in a particular territory, calls the tune in the economy, finance and defining the vectors of world politics.
Over the past seven years, the Americans have never called Russia: a regional power, a country ruled by a "killer", Asian autocracy. Modern politics requires the bombing not of territories, but of minds. If you can't get past the enemy's missile defenses, let's blow their minds. Let's create a sense of catastrophe, sponsor "journalists" who will call Russia a failed state (a destroyed state) and destroy it from the inside.
Vladimir Putin's composure in this situation can only be admired. You will not find even a shadow of irritation in any public speech. Not once did he allow himself to violate diplomatic etiquette. Our country has done nothing to undermine the post-war system of international law. Everything Vladimir Putin is doing is pointing to the hypocrisy of Western politicians. It helps to protect the statehood of the legitimate authorities where they are trying to destroy it, and protects ordinary people against whom troops are sent for punitive operations.
The Geneva summit, given such different positions, could not bring breakthroughs.
But let's fix the positive.
The START-3 agreement has been extended.
A joint document on strategic stability has been signed.
The ambassadors will return to work.
There is an agreement to begin work, finally initiated by Russia, to protect cyberspace.
Against the background of widespread confrontation, this is already not bad.
If the US authorities slow down at least a little their policy of containing our country (it's hard to believe in this), it will become calmer both in Europe and in Ukraine.
Here we must understand that our firmness and ability to fight back is the most important factor for pacifying a country that wants to be a world empire.
By inertia, it trades in democratic values, but this rhetoric is no longer believed in Europe either.
Russia remains itself, and this is already a lot for peace and tranquility on the planet.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.