A meeting of the Russian and US presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama is to take place today in New York (in the early morning of September 29th MSK) within the framework of the 70th UN General Assembly. The Presidents will discuss the implementation of the Minsk agreements by Russia and the situations in Ukraine and Syria.
It is expected that at the meeting with the Russian President, Obama plans to discuss the issue of Russia's accession to the coalition against the terrorist group Islamic State. "President Obama will urge President Putin to consider constructive contribution to the ongoing efforts against ISIS, where more than 60 countries have already been involved,’’ White House spokesman Josh Ernest said.
On the threshold of the meeting between the two leaders, Vestnik Kavkaza interviewed the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine, Fyodor Lukyanov. "Today's meeting between Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama does not mean that Washington intends to change its policy towards Moscow. The US policy has been formed quite clearly. In principle, I see no reason why they should suddenly change it. Another thing is that the tactic can be transformed. For example, the position that was dominating for a long period of time, which can be characterized as mutual disregard, doesn't work. The American party realized it. Now the contacts are being resumed, although it is clear that the is US doing it reluctantly. It is a restoration of certain communication actions in order to understand their partner, rather than change its policy,’’ he explained.
From Fyodor Lukyanov’s point of view, the importance of these negotiations is difficult to overestimate. "We haven’t held meetings for a long time. The most important thing is that the situation is extremely serious. What is happening in the Middle East, including the activation of Russia in Syria? It is certainly quite serious. It is so important for the United States to understand what Russia is going to do there. It is also important for Russia that America didn’t interfere at least. In this sense, the meeting is very important, but we cannot say that the world will change and everything will be different,’’ the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine said.
The expert drew attention to the fact that the significance of the meeting does not affect the completion of the presidency of Barack Obama. "What is the difference? Even if Barack Obama abandons his position, we should understand that he will remain President of the most powerful country in the world for a year and a half. We should take this into account," Lukyanov said.
The political scientist underlined that the existence of a dialogue between the US and Russia is necessary for everybody. ‘‘It doesn’t mean that we support their actions or anything else. It is necessary in order to understand what is happening and reduce risks. In addition, there is such a position that the United States is too important a country and that a conversation with them is evidence, from the viewpoint of other countries, that the US’s interlocutor isn’t in international isolation. I'm not sure that this is the correct interpretation, because absence of conversation with the United States doesn’t mean any insolation. Therefore it is better not to make such an impression,’’ Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs concluded.
