Kerry traded Ukraine for Syria and Iran – US media
The rhetoric of the Cold War and talk about the isolation of Russia due to the crisis in Ukraine are a thing of the past, the American media conclude, summing up the results of the negotiations between Kerry and Putin in Sochi. Experts unanimously say that the United States agreed to cede to the Russian Federation in Ukraine in exchange for some concessions from Moscow on Syria and Iran.
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"It appears that talk of isolating Russia due to the crisis in Ukraine is a thing of the past," RG quotes a translation of a New York Times article. "That page has been turned. The focus of the talks was on finding new avenues of cooperation, including on Syria." "It is unclear whether agreements were reached on the complex issues where the Secretary of State would like to seek cooperation," the newspaper continues. "However, the tone of the meeting largely departed from the Cold War rhetoric that has defined relations between Washington and Moscow in recent years." The author also points out that, contrary to the US's concerns, Kerry did not criticize the supply of Russian S-300 systems to Iran, but "limited himself to acknowledging that this does not violate international law."
“Despite remaining notable differences, the tone of statements after high-level talks has become softer,” writes the Wall Street Journal, stating that “the United States and Russia agreed to work together on the crises in Ukraine and Syria.”
“Kerry became the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Russia since the Ukraine crisis began,” the Washington Post recalls, highlighting Kerry’s “surprisingly warm comments after the talks.” “It appears that the visit will mark the beginning of efforts to renew cooperation in areas where the United States and Russia are able to work together, even with ongoing differences over Ukraine,” the author said. Among the points of contact, the newspaper names negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, the crisis in Syria, and countering the Islamic State group. The Washington Post notes that US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who is considered the main negotiator on Iran, was sitting at the negotiating table to the left of Kerry: “This gives an idea of what interests Washington.”
“We're getting nowhere in Ukraine, but on other topics like Syria or Iran, we need to work together,” the Washington Post quoted Angela Stant, director of the Institute on Eurasia, Russia and Eastern Europe at Georgetown University, as saying.
Kerry traded Ukraine for Syria and Iran – US media