In diplomacy, like in sales, success often depends on making your adversaries believe they proposed the result you wanted. By that measure, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have closed the sale on annexing Crimea from Ukraine. On Monday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited the region that Moscow now claims over international protests, while Russia also said it was withdrawing a battalion of infantry troops from the tens of thousands deployed near the border with eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts focus on defusing the immediate threat of armed conflict and setting up a negotiating process, rather than necessarily reversing the Crimean annexation.
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Secretary of State Kerry cites defusing tensions and setting up talks as goals
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Kerry doesn't mention Crimea by name after meeting with Russian counterpart
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Russian troops near the Ukraine border now the main topic
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Kerry's bottom line: "No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine"
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Afterward, @placeholder told reporters that both governments agreed on the need for a diplomatic solution, and that the goal for now was de-escalating the crisis to allow for further talks.
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"Both sides made suggestions on ways to de-escalate the security and political situation in and around @placeholder," Kerry said.
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While @placeholder alluded to the Crimea annexation on Sunday, calling Russia's "actions" illegal and illegitimate, he also noted that "Russia obviously has long ties and serious interests" in Ukraine.
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While Kerry alluded to the Crimea annexation on Sunday, calling @placeholder's "actions" illegal and illegitimate, he also noted that "Russia obviously has long ties and serious interests" in Ukraine.
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While Kerry alluded to the Crimea annexation on Sunday, calling Russia's "actions" illegal and illegitimate, he also noted that "Russia obviously has long ties and serious interests" in @placeholder.
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Medvedev said Monday @placeholder state salaries and pensions should be raised to Russian levels, as should the pay for military personnel, while compulsory social insurance would be introduced to the region next year.
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A variety of outcomes remain possible, ranging from further Russian military incursions in other ethnic-Russian strongholds in the region to a negotiated political agreement in which Ukraine adopts a new constitution and holds new elections -- almost certainly minus @placeholder.