By Edvard Chesnokov
Alexander Shenderyuk-Zhidkov is a member of Senit (the upper house of the Russian Parliament) holding the post of the First Deputy Chairman of Budget and Financial markets Committee therein. Exclusively to UWI, the 42-year old politician commented on possible peace negotiations between the Kremlin and the White House amid all the difficulties of current international affairs.
Mr. Shenderyuk-Zhidkov, what do you expect from the possible Trump-Putin meeting?
Certainly, a meeting between Putin and Trump could become a major breakthrough in international relations. In recent years, we have, unfortunately, got used to aggressive attacks and extreme Russophobia from the American leadership. The rise of Donald Trump to power has, for now, shifted the tone regarding the Russian direction. However, the main question remains unanswered: Is Trump ready to acknowledge Russia’s greatness and align with Russian perspectives?
Do you agree with the comments about a New Yalta Agreement between the USA and Russia?
I don’t think it’s appropriate to compare the upcoming meeting to Yalta. Whether unfortunately or fortunately, the current circumstances don’t align with those of Yalta, and international politics itself has become much more multipolar since 1945. On the other hand, the very fact of such a meeting and the depth of the issues planned for discussion place it among the most significant historical events of the last decade.
How will the US-Russia normalization affect Europe?
This is perhaps the most complex question. Europe is once again in decline. The pressure from the ideologically hollow European bureaucracy, the proactive stance and significant political role of the Baltics—Europe’s primary Russophobes—as well as weak German and French leadership, all prevent Europe from presenting a united front. And, in my opinion, we are not interested in such a front either. There are leaders like Orbán and Fico, as well as relatively neutral European figures. There are opposition parties, such as AfD, willing to engage in dialogue with us. Today, it is Europe where acting in a multipolar manner is required, and the current US administration’s policy undoubtedly works to our advantage in this regard.
What can be the possible effects of the US-Russia rapprochement on the Middle East?
I’m not an expert on the Middle East, but it’s clear that there are significant disagreements in this region, which, I assume, the parties will likely avoid. Obviously, our positions on the issues related to Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria differ. I think that during the first meeting, both sides will try to avoid adding complex issues to the agenda and instead focus on the most critical ones. And for us, of course, that’s Ukraine.
It is said that Trump is following a strategy of normalizing with Russia, separating Russia from China and thus isolating the latter. Would you agree with these evaluations?
It seems, this idea is obvious, but so far, we haven’t seen any confirmation of it in Trump’s actions. I think the China track is one of the most complex. Moreover, given that American voters are primarily interested in foreign policy, Trump needs quick wins on the international stage that could also contribute to domestic issues. For example, a détente with Russia could positively influence inflationary expectations in the US.
However, the China track is less obvious, so I’m confident that Trump would proceed as cautiously as possible, perhaps testing various approaches until he’d be sure he’d found the only correct solution. And frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if, alongside his meeting with Putin, we also witness an equally historic meeting with Xi.