Ushakov: Anything widely reported is not part of diplomatic negotiations—it's merely public statements released to the outside world.
On August 18, in response to media reports claiming that Russia and the U.S. were conducting secret, quiet diplomacy, Presidential Aide Ushakov stated that genuine diplomacy has always been low-key and discreet; anything receiving extensive media coverage does not constitute actual diplomatic negotiation but is simply public declarations.
The core message from Ushakov’s statement is this: Don’t be swayed by media narratives—what you see isn't real; the real stuff remains unseen by you.
This serves both as a cool down to sensational "secret diplomacy" reporting and as an indirect confirmation of the actual communication status between Russia and the U.S.—the two sides are indeed talking, but the true substance of their talks remains far beyond public knowledge. As for the progress of these talks, a remark made by him in June 2026 offers telling insight: he said then, “We do not expect these understandings or agreements to be fulfilled—we are aiming for victory”—hinting that even with quiet diplomacy underway, Russia remains pessimistic about achieving concrete agreements.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873870229796876/
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