U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo:VCG

The interaction between the US and Russian leaders has recently started to thaw, with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin holding a phone call. This has led to a de-escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has been ongoing for over three years, opening a window for renewed diplomatic efforts among involved parties. This development has had some positive effects on the current international situation.

First, this marks a thaw in the intense confrontation between the US and Russia, indicating a potential recalibration of their strategic relationship toward crisis management. During the Joe Biden administration, the strategic relationship between the US and Russia underwent severe damage. The US consistently pressured Russia on political and geopolitical security issues, ignoring Moscow's strategic warnings, which led to the eventual outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and further escalated the crisis. Russia has long sought to establish an equal and stable relationship with the US and other Western powers, and attempted to engage in dialogue with the US and European nations over the Ukraine issue, but these efforts failed. The election of a new US president undoubtedly provides Moscow with a rare opportunity to break the strategic deadlock. 

The topics discussed in the phone call reveal that the US and Russian leaders not only focused on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict but also touched on issues such as the Middle East, artificial intelligence, the power of the dollar. This interaction signals a détente in their strategic relationship, suggesting a shift back to a great power framework balancing rivalry and cooperation, with the possibility of "deals" on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Gaza conflict, or other global issues.

Second, this signals a major shift in the post-Cold War international order, indicating a transition from a liberalist framework to a more pragmatic approach. The new US administration is more inclined toward a realist foreign policy, gradually abandoning the "rules-based international order." Liberal advocacy of value diplomacy and the transatlantic alliance are giving way to an "America First" approach. Since the 2014 Crimea crisis, Russia has moved away from integration with the West and Atlanticism, shifting toward an independent national development model in both political and economic spheres. 

Specifically on the Ukraine issue, Russia has abandoned the geopolitical fantasy of coexistence and shared influence with the West, instead choosing to compete with the West based on power, even resorting to the use of force to counter Western strategic challenges. The phone call between the US and Russian leaders, leading to the initiation of Russia-Ukraine peace talks, also signals that Russia's realist national strategy is beginning to yield initial results.

Finally, the US and Russia agreed to engage in peaceful negotiations based on reality. The Trump administration asserted that Ukraine's NATO membership is "impractical" and the return of Russian-occupied territories to Kiev is "illusionary." The current situation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has proven that the West and Ukraine lack the strength to achieve their demands, and that pursuing them would only lead to greater losses and strategic risks. 

The phone call between the US and Russian leaders has a positive side, indicating a possible de-escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, this does not guarantee that a compromise will be reached in the short term, as the Ukraine crisis involves complex geopolitical and security interests. 

While there are certain flaws in the liberal international order, an unrestrained shift toward pure realism could also introduce significant risks. Therefore, resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict requires a collective effort from the international community. 

Only by establishing a fair, democratic, and orderly system of international competition can the foundation for lasting global stability and peace be established.

The author is a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. opinion@globaltime.com.cn