After the diplomatic expulsion war, where did the U.S. and Russia move their swords?

　　Chinanews.com, Beijing, April 20 (International Observation) Topic: After the diplomatic expulsion war, where did the United States and Russia move their swords

　　China News Service reporter Wen Longjie and Ma Jiajia

　　The "new situation" in US-Russian relations has recently emerged one after another, such as sanctions, expulsion of diplomats, summits...what is behind this dazzling trick?

Where will the relationship between the two countries go?

　　New sanctions and the "diplomatic expulsion war"

　　U.S.-Russian relations have not been straightened out in recent years.

The new administration of the United States failed to bring about a "new atmosphere" after it came to power in January this year.

In addition to achieving limited cooperation in the field of arms control, the two sides still have obvious differences on issues such as the situation in Ukraine, cyber security, human rights, and election interference.

　　In recent days, the relations between the two countries have become tense again.

On April 15th, the US government imposed large-scale sanctions on Russia and expelled 10 Russian diplomats on the grounds of malicious activities such as Russia’s cyber attacks and interference in US elections.

　　As a "reciprocal response," Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov announced on the 16th that Russia would expel 10 US diplomats in Russia and put 8 US government officials on the "blacklist."

According to other reports, Russian Assistant President Ushakov also summoned US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan on the same day, suggesting that he return to China to discuss the development of Russian-US relations with US government officials.

　　At the same time, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine also joined the "siege."

On the 15th, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the expulsion of three Russian diplomats.

The Czech Republic announced the expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats on the 17th.

Ukraine announced the expulsion of a Russian diplomat.

Russia expelled 5 Polish diplomats, 20 Czech diplomats, and 1 Ukrainian diplomat.

Data map: Russian President Putin.

　　What is intended?

　　Regarding this “meshed war”, Zhang Hong, a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that one of the reasons for the escalation of diplomatic discord between Russia and the Western camp is that the US pursues “selective multilateralism” rather than genuine Multilateralism.

True multilateralism should be mutual respect and equal consultation among all countries in international affairs.

While the United States imposed sanctions on other countries and expelled diplomats, it also declared that it would cooperate. This kind of "twisting Pakistan" operation will not bring real positive energy to the international community.

　　Russia "opened the skylight to speak bright words" and directly accused the United States of being the "general plan" of this "diplomatic expulsion war." Poland, the Czech Republic and other countries "keep up with the United States" in order to "cooperate with the United States."

What is the intention of the United States to impose new sanctions on Russia and provoke this "siege" against Russia?

"

　　Analysts believe that this is related to the foreign strategic guidelines for the transition period determined by the Biden administration in early March.

　　"The Biden administration established the so-called transitional foreign strategy guidelines in early March, and almost simultaneously launched a new round of sanctions on Russia with the European Union in early March." Diao Diao, a researcher at the National Institute of Development and Strategy, Renmin University of China Daming told reporters from Chinanews.com that if the pressure in early March was mainly to see how Brussels reacted, then this round of pressure obviously depends on the Central and Eastern European countries, which are these "new Europe" or non-traditional. How about the progress of sanctions in European countries?

Data map: US President Biden.

　　What's the outlook?

　　"In the third decade of the 21st century, the global problems facing the world are increasing." Zhang Hong told a reporter from Chinanews.com. Under this background, major powers especially need to assume political responsibilities and put aside unilateralism and zero-sum. Game thinking is the best choice to cope with global challenges with an open and cooperative attitude.

"

　　The US-Russian relationship is related to global stability, and its prospects have attracted attention from all parties.

Diao Daming believes that on the one hand, the Biden administration emphasized the threat from Russia to its European allies in various ways, and strengthened the perception of the threat from Russia by the US European allies by provoking certain disputes. But at the same time, "the biggest bottom line is the United States." It must not be involved in the relevant conflicts itself, it is controllable."

　　In fact, the board of the new US sanctions seems to be "lifted high," but there is room for it. That is, although the US prohibits US financial institutions from buying Russian sovereign bonds in the primary market, it does not prohibit trading in the secondary market.

In other words, it has not completely blocked the financing channels of Russian government bonds in the US dollar market.

　　In the face of the new sanctions and "siege," Russia has made a tough and reciprocal response, but it has not completely closed the door to dialogue.

Prior to this, all parties have been discussing the possibility of Putin and Biden meeting in Finland, even if the matter has not been "completely abandoned" by all parties.

Moreover, after the "mutual misfortune", Putin still accepted Biden's invitation to participate in the climate summit on April 22.

One of the details in the process also deserves special attention. The Russian President’s Press Secretary Peskov stated that Putin has no plans to conduct bilateral contacts with Biden and other heads of state during the climate summit, instead of just taking the United States out.

　　It can be said that whether it is the new sanctions or the “negative interaction” similar to the expulsion of diplomats from each other, there is a high probability that it will not be the last time in the development of bilateral relations between Russia and the United States, but there is no doubt that “contact” is still the two sides. Consensus.

　　Diao Daming also prejudged that the tension between Russia and the United States and Western countries will not last forever. It is very likely that after mutual sanctions and mutual expulsions in the diplomatic sense have reached a certain level, the relationship between the two sides has entered a low level. stage.

　　The relationship between the United States and Russia, a pair of major powers with global influence is complex and multi-faceted, and trying to observe from a linear and one-sided perspective is inevitably oversimplified. It is difficult to know whether it is better or worse. If it is not enough, partial cooperation and dialogue under the main theme of "not very good" may be the normal state of Russia-US relations for some time to come. (Finish)