12 January, 12:58
The Kremlin's news agenda underwent an astonishing transformation following a series of scandalous and provocative statements by Trump, as if an old TV had suddenly switched to a comedy channel.
In Moscow, they can't seem to figure out what Trump is up to. His imperial rhetoric leaves them baffled. Trump harshly mocks Putin’s neo-imperial ambitions, throwing the Kremlin into complete confusion. They can’t tell if he’s laughing at them or being serious.
As a result, several narratives have disappeared from Kremlin news:
1. The fight against U.S. imperialism
Russia has always enjoyed blaming Washington—and Jews—for all the world’s sins. But after Trump claimed rights to Denmark’s, Canada’s, and, who knows, maybe even the Moon’s territory, the Kremlin remains silent. After all, Trump’s statements effectively justify Moscow’s war against Ukraine. So why not turn a blind eye to "imperialism"? It’s awkward to accuse your favorite enemy and pseudo-ally of excessive arrogance.
2. Decolonization
The Kremlin no longer mentions its fleeting desire to "decolonize Africa." Why bother when it’s clear that, after Russia seizes African countries, they almost immediately start "cooperating" with China? It gives the distinct impression that Russia is playing the role of a subordinate assistant, doing all the dirty work in exchange for hollow promises, only to hand over the fruits of its labor to Beijing. It’s reminiscent of the joint "campaign" of Nazis and internationalists in Poland in 1939, where Germany did the heavy lifting while the USSR smugly claimed its "slice." Only now the roles have changed: Moscow increasingly looks like an executor acting under the direction of an ambitious strategic "partner."
3. Africa
After grandiose declarations about developing ties with the continent, the Kremlin now prefers to keep quiet about the results. African countries, clearly unimpressed, are instead seeing China’s influence grow in direct proportion to Russia’s waning efforts.
What has appeared:
1. Acknowledgment of the criminality of Assad’s regime
Of course, this criminality is interpreted with notable flexibility. Something along the lines of, "He’s a criminal, but he’s our criminal." And really, why should Russians care about Syrians? Especially since the new government doesn’t seem to object to hosting Russian military bases.
2. Terrorists have embarked on a path of redemption
An unexpected benevolence toward terrorists raises questions: does "redemption" mean loyalty to Moscow? If terrorists politely carry out the Kremlin’s wishes, can they even be called terrorists anymore? They’re practically allies!
The Kremlin’s news agenda now resembles a well-rehearsed play where roles change mid-performance, and the audience has long since stopped trying to figure out whether it’s a tragedy or a farce.
Links: source