A Special Journey Fleet Il-96 departed Moscow at 0919 in the morning and went on to St. Petersburg, where it landed at 10: 16. At 12: 15, it departed St. Petersburg for New York, an 11-hour 52-minute journey, arriving at 12: 10 am, December 26.
It may keep New York at 8: 34 am and arrive in Washington at 09: 27 am after a 53-minute journey. It would remain in Washington until later that afternoon, departing Dulles Airport at 16: 49 ( 4: 49 pm ).
According to the standard Russian director, Maria Zakharova, the trip was arranged for “another movement of diplomats”.
The meetings had include lasted no longer than a few hours if high-level official interlocutors had really been flown to Washington for meetings. The meetings had had taken place at the airport, preventing any possible press coverage, despite the distance of about 50 minutes between Dulles and downtown Washington. If this situation turns out to be true, there would have been four hours for conferences, including breakfast.
It is completely fanciful what took place, if everything. However, there have been feedback from both sides suggesting that arrangements are likely in progress for a preliminary Trump-Putin meet. Different locations have been suggested for a place for a meeting like this, but it is certain that any location would need to provide both leaders with extremely high levels of security.
This leaves the UAE with standard alternatives like Geneva and others like Doha, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Putin received Putin in Abu Dhabi in December 2023, and the Russians have forged relationships to the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Qatar, on the other hand, hosts the US Air Force at al-Udeid and the forward office of CENTCOM. As the Russian side believed, this was obstruct Qatar for safety reasons.
The IL-96 sent by Moscow to Washington is run by the Russian Special Flight Fleet, also known as the 235th Separate Aviation Detachment.
This Detachment was established in 1956, generally emulating the United States, and used specially modified business airplane to transport top Russian leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Detachment operates 13 IL-96 long-range plane and 5 Tu-214s and is usually based at Vnukovo airport south of Moscow. The Tu-214 is a twin-engine mid-range plane.
The IL-96 type used by Putin is designated as the Il-96-300PU. It is the Russian fleet’s key presidential plane. The plane features four motors and a wide-bodied style. The inside has been made specifically for VIP usage.
Washington and Moscow have a great disagreement over how to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Any meet that doesn’t close the gap is unlikely to occur.
The space includes the long-term appearance of NATO in Ukraine, territorial issues, disarmament, treatment of Russian speakers in Ukraine, the status of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine, and the use of ports and airfields for exports of grain, pipeline transits to Europe, geographical boundaries, and the framework of potential relations between Ukraine and Russia, including even Ukraine’s relationship to the European Community.
Russia-related punishment from the US and Europe, as well as other safety concerns involving NATO and Russia.
One would anticipate that a deal would include measures taken by all parties to reduce the parameters of the conflict. This may involve a commitment to remove Russian forces from the Kursk region as well as a deal that stops Russia from bombing the Russian energy infrastructure and stops the Ukrainians from attacking Russian territory.
Such actions may foster trust between the leaders. Is it still unclear whether Washington could manage Ukraine.
Washington needs to maintain eastern Europe, where the Germans are closing automobile companies and where markets are in near free fall. Inexpensive energy, specially natural gas, is a key factor.
If the US wants to act swiftly to lessen the pressure on Germany, a portion of the three-quarters of the Nord Stream network could be restored to operation. Also, the transport of oil through Ukraine needs to be restored. Trump might strike a deal with Putin by using some of these companies to be restored and by removing some restrictions as a confidence-building estimate.
If the people are all prepared for a package, there are plenty of probable cards on the table. Not far from Pokrovsk, a crucial transport hub, the Russians are pretty close to taking Chasiv Yar. Russia appears to be working really hard to effectively beat the Ukrainians in both cities, perhaps at the very least within a few weeks.
This would give Putin a significant dealing advantage, and it would inspire Donald Trump to act quickly to put an end to the Zelensky government before it finally crumbles.
Stephen Bryen is a journalist for Asia Times and previously held the positions of assistant secretary of protection for policy and staff director of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  ,
This , article was first published , on his , Substack newsletter , Weapons and Strategy and is republished with authority.