After weeks of silence, Russian state media has suddenly pivoted toward a “let’s make a deal” narrative, signaling a startling shift in tone as high-stakes Ukraine negotiations revive in Moscow and Abu Dhabi.

As peace talks over Ukraine press forward, the familiar structures of multilateralism are being bypassed in favor of direct, high-stakes bargaining between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, two leaders who fancy themselves masters of the “deal.”

With European leaders watching from afar, the latest negotiations have shifted to a Moscow-Abu Dhabi axis. In late-night Kremlin sessions reminiscent of the Stalin era, American delegations led by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have found in Vladimir Putin a leader who seems ready to........

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