Putin is angling for another high-profile sit-down with Trump, but this time, the location and stakes are different. Behind the diplomatic bravado, we see a familiar playbook of strategic flattery, poorly veiled ultimatums, and lies after lies.

The Kremlin is practically giddy with anticipation about a possible summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. But this time, don’t expect the meeting to be held in Helsinki. Instead, Russia is reportedly eyeing Saudi Arabia or the UAE as potential locations. Senior Russian officials have already made visits to these countries, laying the groundwork. In the lead-up to a potential summit, Putin has gone out of his way to shower the American president with praise.

Putin has called Trump a ‘very strong person’ and even released a video congratulating him on his election win – something he had never done in 25 years of power. Normally, Putin’s message to incoming US presidents is a short public telegram, but this time, he made an exception, delivering a full-on video message emphasising his supposed openness to ‘dialogue’.

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