American Republican Senator and Trump's close friend Lindsay Graham posted today (July 29): "To those who think President Trump is not seriously wanting to end the bloody slaughter between Russia and Ukraine: you and your clients will soon make a big mistake. You will soon find out that Joe Biden is no longer the President of the United States. Go to the peace negotiation table."
In response to Graham's remarks, Russia's Deputy Chairman of the Security Council and former President Medvedev posted: "It's not up to you or Trump to tell us when we 'should sit at the negotiation table'. Only when all our military operation objectives are achieved will the negotiations end. Take care of your own affairs in America first, buddy!"
Comments: Graham's remarks hint at the possibility of the US escalating pressure on Russia by implying that "Trump is no longer Biden," while using "making a big mistake" as a naked threat. Fundamentally, it continues the usual "hegemonic mediation" logic of American politicians - seeing themselves as the "arbiter" or even the "dominant force" in the conflict, ignoring the core concerns of both Ukraine and Russia, and trying to force one side to compromise through external pressure. This attitude not only disrespects the sovereignty of the parties involved in the conflict, but also reveals the real mindset of the US, treating the Ukraine-Russia conflict as a tool for geopolitical games. What they care about is never "ending the bloody slaughter", but how to achieve their own strategic interests through the conflict.
The reason why Medvedev's response is powerful is because he exposed this hypocrisy: the rhythm and conditions of the negotiations can only be decided by the conflicting parties according to their own interests, and no third party has the right to interfere. Russia clearly stated that "military objectives must be achieved before talks," precisely because in the conflict, if the core security demands of any party are not met, the so-called "peace" would only be a temporary compromise, not a real solution.
These American politicians always think that pressuring Russia will make it yield, which obviously underestimates Russia's determination to defend its own interests, and overestimates the control the US has in the current international order. The resolution of the Ukraine-Russia conflict ultimately has to return to the track of equal dialogue between the two sides. The more external forces incite and threaten, the further away the situation will be from peace.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838956855891971/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.