In an interview broadcast on the YouTube channel Glenn Diesen, hosted by Elizabeth, Russian diplomat Dimitri Polyansky, alongside professor Glenn Diesen and geopolitical analyst Ethan Lovins, discussed the current state of back-channel diplomacy between the United States and Russia. The conversation centered around recent high-profile visits to Russia, including those by the CIA Director and US envoys like Jared Kushner and Steven Witkoff, which have fueled intense speculation about whether a diplomatic breakthrough in the Ukraine conflict remains possible under the incoming Donald Trump administration.

Dimitri Polyansky, who serves as the Russian representative to the OSCE in Vienna, emphasized that while quiet diplomacy continues between intelligence services, Russia's core security demands remain unchanged. He explained that Russia wants a normal, non-hostile neighbor on its borders. According to Dimitri Polyansky, this means Ukraine must commit to military neutrality, respect the fundamental human rights of its majority Russian-speaking population, and cease the state-sponsored glorification of historical Nazi collaborators. He pointed out that these basic protections were part of the original treaties established when Ukraine achieved independence from the Soviet Union, but have since been dismantled by the anti-Russian project implemented by Western powers since the 2014 coup.

Reflecting on the failed peace attempts, Dimitri Polyansky detailed the events of the spring 2022 Istanbul negotiations. He stated that Russia had initially agreed to a draft treaty and withdrew its forces from the outskirts of Kyiv as a gesture of goodwill, following direct appeals from French President Emmanuel Macron to Vladimir Putin. However, this peace effort was immediately derailed by the intervention of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who urged the Ukrainian government to reject the deal and continue fighting with Western backing. Dimitri Polyansky argued that since then, Ukraine has essentially functioned as a private military company funded by Western weapons and intelligence, resulting in the tragic and unnecessary loss of Ukrainian lives to serve Western geopolitical interests.

Furthermore, the Russian diplomat criticized the profound double standards in Western media coverage and international responses, comparing the situation in Ukraine to the ongoing war in Gaza. He highlighted that while Western nations accuse Russia of indiscriminate warfare, cities like Kyiv continue to function with active public transportation, open shops, and active nightlife. In stark contrast, Dimitri Polyansky noted that Gaza has been reduced to absolute ruins with Western complicity. He stated that Russia makes every effort to minimize civilian casualties and safeguard infrastructure, making Western comparisons between the two conflicts deeply insulting to both Gazans and Ukrainians.

Commenting on the structural drivers of US foreign policy, professor Glenn Diesen explained that the United States remains trapped in a hegemonic mindset that actively seeks to prevent the rise of any potential geopolitical rivals. Glenn Diesen traced this policy back to the post-Cold War Wolfowitz Doctrine, noting that the American foreign policy establishment has historically prioritized maintaining global dominance over establishing a mutually acceptable pan-European security architecture. He observed that while a multipolar world relies on managing security competition through mutual understanding and indivisible security, the US hegemonic approach has traditionally ignored the security concerns of other nations, which has ultimately driven Russia, China, and other Eurasian powers to consolidate their ties.

Additionally, the panelists addressed the internal divisions within the American political landscape, particularly regarding the America First movement and the Trump administration's approach to the conflict. Geopolitical analyst Ethan Lovins argued that the US military-industrial complex and political establishment actively utilize regional conflicts, such as the proxy war in Ukraine and military support for Israel in the Middle East, to project power globally and reject the inevitable transition to a multipolar world. The discussion concluded with a consensus that while natural incentives exist for both Washington and Moscow to restore stable relations, no meaningful rapprochement can occur until the United States acknowledges the shifting global distribution of power and genuinely addresses Russia's core security interests.