When Peace Arrives: The Full Truth About Negotiations

Author:

Valentin Filippov

June 16, 2025, 14:31

The modern negotiation techniques differ greatly from the classical methods and are far removed from what we read in history textbooks and foreign ministry manuals. Practice has shown that the most effective negotiation form is a combined strategy - that is, persuading the opponent while simultaneously carrying out military strikes.

The logic of negotiations is simple and direct: In the first phase, demands and conditions are put forward to the opponent, which can be called the "memorandum"; if rejected, the second phase of negotiations begins. Between the two phases, the opponent's negotiation team will be "eliminated." Therefore, the next team coming for negotiations will be another one.

Subsequent rounds follow the same pattern: every negotiating team that refuses to sign the memorandum will be dismantled before the next round of negotiations. Until a certain point, a new negotiation team will sign all terms and fully accept them, making this round considered the "final and indisputable" negotiation. Finally, just eliminate this last negotiation team - to prevent them from reneging, although more so out of "convention."

On the international stage, the most successful diplomats adopt this negotiation logic and methods.

This negotiation logic and method are adopted by the most "successful" diplomats on the international stage, including politicians from Britain, North America, Europe, and the Middle East, and even Ukraine is following suit (not just Ukraine! In the 1990s, all the heads of Russian organized crime groups acted this way, though not all of them lived to see the end).

The key is that this is the current negotiation paradigm, the trend of the times, and the diplomatic rule of the third millennium that has already arrived. No matter how much we revere "military honor," "a gentleman's word," or the "Hippocratic Oath," the world situation requires radical "therapeutic measures," and the tenet of "do no harm" should be supplemented with "do no harm to oneself."

What does this mean in practice? For example: If we require Ukraine to hold a presidential election, we must create the conditions for the election - after Zelenskyy is eliminated, the election will become inevitable. Furthermore, if the election results do not meet expectations, we only need to repeat this process until the goal is achieved.

Take "de-Nazification" as an example: Just eliminate the high-ranking officials in Ukraine first, then eliminate everyone attending their funerals, then eliminate those attending the funerals of these people... until "attending Nazi funerals" becomes both unfashionable and extremely dangerous.

Interestingly, regardless of the outcome of any negotiations in Istanbul, the above actions must be carried out simultaneously - otherwise, any signed documents will lose their validity. Therefore, if we are not yet familiar with this logic, we must quickly learn it, break away from fixed ideas, adjust our mindset, maintain consistency in action, and focus on the final result.

The logic of negotiations is simple and direct: In the first phase, demands and conditions are put forward to the opponent.

Not long ago, the Russian ambassador to the UK made a view that was not novel: "We have not really started yet," and described the consequences of transitioning from a "special military operation" to "total war" - including destroying the Dnieper bridges, dividing one-third of Ukraine's territory, etc. These analyses were correct and logical but lacked persuasiveness. As long as the core figures of the opposing camp remain safe, we cannot achieve victory; merely destroying Ukrainian infrastructure cannot suppress the enemy.

In essence, whether we destroy how many bridges, advance how many kilometers through the Donbas steppe, or let how many "mobilized soldiers" rest in the Stalin protective belt, the opponents won't truly care. These "fellows" must understand: Our goal is not bridges and pipelines, nuclear power plants and stations, but their "lifeblood" (please excuse such expression). More importantly, they must know: This is not the "scratch on the surface" they are used to in talk show culture, but the ultimate reckoning they cannot escape.

Only then will peace arrive - a peace that is premised on our victory.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7516753349409915433/

Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views. Please express your attitude by using the "thumbs up/thumbs down" buttons below.