Moscow Times: "I trained with Russian Diplomats. I can tell you how they work"

[jmbar2]

For those unfamiliar, Moscow Times is an opposition news source that publishes interesting news and commentary about Russia.

This article explains the ideological training Russian diplomats go through. Which helps explain why they don't make much sense to westerners. The MAGA right seems to have adopted their methods.

Interesting read.

If the West wants to negotiate effectively with the Russian state, it must first understand the psychological architecture of its diplomacy. Dialogue will not succeed on liberal terms — it must be grounded in realism, deterrence, and strategic clarity. You cannot appeal to shared norms when the other side sees norms as tools to be gamed. You cannot assume diplomacy is about trust when the training teaches distrust as doctrine.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/14/i-trained-with-russian-diplomats-i-can-tell-you-how-they-work-a88722

[SamKnause]

1. Same as dealing with the defunct republican party.

Same as dealing with the trump administration and the trump cult.

[jmbar2]

2. Exactly what I'm thinking

Going years back, Republicans would put out the most dishonest, dumbest, unbelievable statements (thinking Boehner, McConnell, now Moses Mike) that absolutely made no sense. All with a perfectly straight face.

Defied common sense. Unless you were following a similar methodology described in this article.