Araghchi Meets Putin.

And that is not random, of course. 

Pakistan, April 27 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow, where both leaders discussed regional tensions and ongoing efforts to restore stability in the Middle East. The meeting focused on diplomatic developments linked to stalled Iran United States negotiations and broader security challenges across the region. Putin expressed hope that the Iranian people would overcome what he described as a difficult period. He also emphasized that peace remains a shared priority for regional stability. During the discussions, Putin stated that Russia would continue to support Iran and other regional countries in line with its diplomatic interests and long standing partnerships. He highlighted Moscow's role in encouraging dialogue and maintaining communication channels during periods of heightened geopolitical pressure. According to Russian state media, Putin also mentioned that he had received a message from Iran's Supreme Leader. He further praised the resilience of the Iranian population amid ongoing challenges.

But, obviously, Araghchi met Vladimir Putin not for the exchange of diplomatic pleasantries but to discuss mechanism of fixing the political results of a now obvious military defeat of the US and Israel. It is always a critical phase of any war. And when even this moron states obvious: 

Iran "humiliates" the United States, which does not know how to get out of the war. This was stated by German Chancellor Fradrich Merz, n-tv reports. "The Americans, obviously, do not have a strategy. At the moment, I don't see what strategic exit path the Americans will take, especially since the Iranians are obviously negotiating very skillfully — or very skillfully not doing them," he said. According to the head of the German government, the Americans are being subjected to "humiliation by the Iranian state leadership, primarily by these so-called Revolutionary Guards."

One has to inevitably arrive to the conclusion that the US simply ran out of military options because grand and military strategies are all about resources which the US doesn't have. NYT today declared Trump a hostage to Iran. One of a very few times when I agree with this tabloid. 

The Real Response ...

 ... is only coming. 

Москва. 8 июня. INTERFAX.RU - Президент России Владимир Путин на предстоящей неделе проведет большое заседание Совета безопасности РФ, в его планах также мероприятия, посвященные Дню медицинского работника. В минувшую среду глава государства в ходе совещания с членами правительства сообщил, что на ближайшем заседании Совбеза обсудит с главой МИД России и представителями силового блока теракты, произошедшие 1 июня в Брянской и Курской областях, в преддверии переговоров в Стамбуле.

Translation: Moscow. June 8. INTERFAX.RU - Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a major meeting of the Russian Security Council next week, and his plans also include events dedicated to Medical Worker Day.Last Wednesday, the head of state announced at a meeting with members of the government that at the next Security Council meeting he would discuss with the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry and representatives of the security bloc the terrorist attacks that took place on June 1 in the Bryansk and Kursk regions, ahead of the talks in Istanbul.

I reiterate, any strike, especially massive one, like the one which is ongoing right this very moment, requires preparation. What 404 is getting IS NOT a response to terrorist acts. These are strikes which have been planned some time ago. In other words--this is planned combat activity. What the "real" response could be--who cares, we'll know when the time comes. Stay tuned.

Larry And Judge ...

 ... on meeting Lavrov. 

Lying Is A Requirement.

In the US politics. Trump is doing what he does best--BS. 

Putin could never have said anything like this because he knows who Trump is and he has no intention whatsoever to "stop" the war in "24 hours". This is a pathological narcissism which breaks all limits of propriety and allows the guy to lie and sincerely believe his own lies. Obviously, Russians have no illusions about the US intentions whatsoever. Russians are also very good at math and they know US manufacturing capabilities of critical weapon systems as well as the starting levels of resources. 

Remarkably, Trump, in some ironic sense, continues to reap what he and his admin, of which he had no control whatsoever, have sown--arming and training Kiev regime in earnest. Russians have a very good memory. Meanwhile--US tax dollars at work or rather not working. 

МОСКВА, 22 дек — РИА Новости. Вооруженные силы России за время спецоперации на Украине поразили минимум 30 пусковых установок зенитно-ракетного комплекса Patriot производства США, свидетельствует подсчет РИА Новости на основе официальных данных Минобороны. Один из последних и самых результативных ударов упоминается в сводке за 15 декабря: тогда были уничтожены четыре пусковые установки, а также машина боевого управления и радиолокационная станция AN/MPQ-65. 

Translation: MOSCOW, December 22 — RIA Novosti. During a special operation in Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed at least 30 launchers of the U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system, according to RIA Novosti’s calculations based on official data from the Defense Ministry. One of the most recent and most effective strikes is mentioned in the December 15 report: four launchers were destroyed, as well as a combat control vehicle and an AN/MPQ-65 radar station.

 

And that's just Patriots--around $30 billion gone--there are many other types from NASAMS to Iris-T to what have you which have been destroyed. Make no mistake, Russian AD also loses some AD systems here and there, but nowhere near (two orders of magnitude fewer) what 404 and its NATO "friends" lost in what is now the largest SEAD operation in the last half-a-century and which makes all previous anti-AD operations look like a backwater. NATO AD is designed for wars with inferior forces and is NOT capable to fight modern delivery systems from tactical level up. The gap between Russian and NATO AD systems continues to widen and it cannot be closed any time soon, if ever.

Oh, Not Again.

Will start with this. This is Fiona Hill. 

She noticed that:

Russian President Vladimir Putin brought an attractive female translator to a meeting with Donald Trump at the G20 Summit in Osaka in 2019 as a way to distract his American counterpart, a former White House aide has claimed. In her not-yet-published memoirs, Stephanie Grisham claims that Fiona Hill, former Senior Director for Europe and Russia of the National Security Council, observed Putin’s subtle attempt to throw Trump off guard.“As the meeting began, Fiona Hill leaned over and asked me if I had noticed Putin’s translator, who was a very attractive brunette woman with long hair, a pretty face, and a wonderful figure,” Grisham writes, according to an excerpt published in The New York Times. “She proceeded to tell me that she suspected the woman had been selected by Putin specifically to distract our president.”

This is Stephanie Grisham who writes about it.

Stephanie Grisham needs to sell as many books as possible and in this case any BS about her tenure in Trump's Administration is worth making up or embellishing. 

Both Grisham and Hill identify the interpreter present from Russian side, Daria Boyarskaya as  "very attractive" and, supposedly, being specifically there to "distract" Trump. Here is Daria. 

This whole thing shows to what degree both Grisham and Hill are ignorant about Russia, as well as jealous, because while Boyarskaya is by no means an ugly woman and even fairly attractive, she is a run of the mill woman in Russia. If they wanted to see really attractive Russian women (as my son has to have his jaw lifting from the ground when visiting Russia because of the girls passing him by on Moscow or St.Peterburg's streets), they should have visited and studied Russia more. Again, nothing against very pleasant and feminine Boyrskaya.

She is very pleasant when wears a makeup, as most women will be, but she is nothing super-pooper special. It has to be admitted, as it was by many, in general Slavic women are beautiful physically. When you add to that a good content of character, yes, they become a desired prize. As a demonstration, take, for example, Ukraine's deputy foreign minister, a rabid Russophobe Olena Zerkal. Whatever one may say about her, but she is definitely a very attractive woman. 

Did Ukrainians promote Zerkal into this position to impress EU bureaucracy she deals with? I don't think so, but the fact that she IS a very attractive woman certainly did not hurt. Zerkal is your almost archetypal Slavic woman which projects both intellect and femininity, which many Western women in politics do not have. It is not just how you look, which, of course, matters--it is what you project and how which plays a role. Everybody knows Maria Zakharova, who does, indeed, have a star quality to her despite being not the most beautiful woman (those legs, though!), but there are very many men who would count their blessings if loved by a woman of such qualities.  And yes, she is still attractive. As is Natalya Poklonskaya.  

As is Alina Kabaeva (Tatar, though, she is ethnically)
 

Who is being promoted by Western and liberal Russian media constantly to the position of a secret lover and even mother of their child with Putin. And even if it is true--nothing is wrong with that, boy, Alina is still stunning and Putin is divorced for a long time. These are all women in Russian politics who are beautiful, and some are simply drop dead gorgeous, and they went into the politics not to "impress"or "distract" anyone. The point is, in the end, Russia has an abundance of beautiful women including in the top political and administrative positions and they are not there to be bimbos but to do their job, while remaining very attractive and feminine--a true secret to attraction between the man and the woman.   

Yes, this is Russia and it is not even Moscow. It is Nizhniy Novgorod, I believe. And yes, most of these girls dream about meeting their man, who will become their lover, husband and the father of their children and, hopefully, great provider. Plus, Russian men fight for their women against enemies, in the West... well, fill in the blanks yourself....

Why It Matters Very Little.

I mean Putin and Trump's meeting in Osaka. Here is one such reason:

Moscow and Beijing have inked an intergovernmental agreement to switch to national currencies in bilateral trade and boost cross-currency settlements up to 50 percent as they ramp up efforts to move away from the US dollar.The document was signed by Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and the head of the People’s Bank of China, Yi Gang, earlier in June, Izvestia reports.Moscow and Beijing are currently developing new mechanisms of cross-border payments between Russian and Chinese businesses, the newspaper said, citing a letter from Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak to Anatoly Aksakov, the head of the financial market committee of the State Duma (lower chamber of Russia’s parliament). The two sides may settle payment gateways between their domestic alternatives to the traditional SWIFT system, Russia’s System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS) and China’s Cross-Border Inter-Bank Payments System (CIPS).

In the same time it is a very good move to invite Trump to celebrate 75th Anniversary of Victory in Moscow, especially if Western Allied troops will take part in the Red Square Parade too. In 2010 it did happen and it was a wonderful exhibit and experience, this is not to mention that scores of Americans, British, Canadians etc.  now attend Immortal Regiment marches not only in home countries but visit Moscow, St. Pete (Leningrad at Victory Day) and other Russian cities. 

I am, however, upset with Putin (wink, wink)--how could he on the eve of my next book's release steal my thunder, LOL. This is so unfair. 

Globalization and the ‘liberal idea’ have failed Europe and the US, while post-Cold War chaos is driving crises in Venezuela and North Korea, but was stopped in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview to FT. In a lengthy interview with the UK-based Financial Times on Wednesday, Putin candidly addressed questions about the Russian intervention in Syria – and lack thereof in Venezuela – as well as nuclear proliferation, North Korea, immigration policies in the US and Europe, Russian economy, relations with the UK, and the failure of what he called the “liberal idea” to provide for the people’s well-being.While the Cold War was bad, Putin told FT’s Lionel Barber and Henry Foy, “there were at least some rules that all participants in international communication more or less adhered to or tried to follow. Now, it seems that there are no rules at all.”

Vladimir Vladimirovich, don't do this to me anymore, please;-))) On a serious note, though, what possibly was missed, is when Putin explicitly called Merkel's immigration policy "a cardinal mistake" (in Russian), in his interview to Financial Times. I wonder what is his opinion on American immigration debate? I have a very clear idea, quoting Putin himself, humanitarianism is fine, "but what about interests of own population, when refugees count is not in couple-three dozens people, but is in hundreds thousands of those who arrive to Western Europe?"(c) So, who is more European, then? Some "lefty" psychos will call this "meddling" in Europe's internal affairs. It is not, it is a sentence and diagnosis of a political crime being committed against indigenous population of Europe, and white European-root population of the United States. Again, recall Putin's monologue at Valdai in 2017. I think, in the long run, he and many people in Russia do understand that Russia may become a refuge for European keen. Today, we can only see some foggy shapes of the emerging new world order, if we all avoid a war, we may see in 10 years an unrecognizable international system. As per Putin-Trump meeting, do not take much of it too seriously. Trump decided to let go at least informed adviser on Russia, Fiona Hill. Rumors are, some close John Bolton's creature will take the post. Wonderful.  

He Still Thinks That It Is A TV Show.

Reality and (pseudo)reality TV shows are not the same. But POTUS thinks that they are.  

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he may cancel his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Argentina because of Russia's maritime clash with Ukraine. In an interview with the Washington Post, Trump said he was awaiting a "full report" from his national security team Tuesday evening about Russia’s capture of three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews on Sunday."That will be very determinative," Trump told the Post. "Maybe I won't have the meeting. Maybe I won't even have the meeting ... I don't like that aggression. I don't want that aggression at all," he said.

By now it all became so redundant, if not nauseating, that no one in Moscow really pays attention to it other than in a "here we go again" manner. Kremlin is keenly aware that there could be no sensible dialogue with the United States anymore. Ron Unz already summarized Trump's presidency really well.

For foreign policy reasons, I had strongly favored Trump both in the primary and in the general election, but I hardly regarded him as a thoughtful vessel for the positions he claimed to espouse. To put it bluntly, he struck me much like a highly-opinionated construction worker, angrily spouting off on politics in his local neighborhood bar, being right on some matters and wrong on others, but with none of his views based upon any deep understanding of the issues. I suspect that even many of Trump’s strongest supporters have gradually come around to a similar appraisal of their idol.  

Putin, certainly, is well aware of that. At this stage the only subject which could and must be discussed, if the meeting goes ahead, is how to avoid sliding into direct military conflict between Russia and the US, because American side continues to be consistently unaware of the consequences of its actions. Trump doesn't control his own foreign policy or, as Phil Giraldi succinctly observed yesterday: 

U.S. Foreign Policy Has No Policy. Why can't we just leave everyone alone?

This is one of those key points that Trump and people around him fail to understand--Russia neither admires the United States nor wants to benefit from the Russian-American relations anymore. Those times are long gone. As I commented year and a half ago:

Russians long ago stopped viewing the United States as possible ally and after West's committing a cultural suicide in Russia with West's inspired coup in Kiev, the only thing Russians do want is for West to just go away. That is what this neutrality means. 

Trump is not aware of this. He still thinks that he and the US are admired, worshiped, and are used as a model. This is not the case with Russia at all. I will omit here commenting on China but it seems at least Chinese are trying to fashion themselves into US 2.0 in the post-American world. But in the end, it all comes down to the United States not being a treaty-worthy party. American geopolitical "strategies" are as primitive as people who devise and implement them and Putin is also keenly aware of that--he knows that the US is at war with Russia. So, for Russians it really doesn't mean that much if there will be the meeting or not--it is absolutely meaningless to negotiate with the country which has long ago became a bad parody of itself and lives in the virtual world of a reality show. Oxymoron is intentional.

UPDATE: Colonel Lang just wrote an excellent piece on Trump. And I agree with a lot what he writes. 

As I wrote earlier he sees the world through an entrepreneurial hustler's lens, crudely assigning absolute dollar values to ongoing policy outcomes and actions which have little to do with the actual world as opposed to the arena of contract negotiations.  He evidently learned about balance sheets at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and wishes to apply the principle of the bottom line to everything.

I also agree on humanities issue. To clarify: if someone gets an impression that I am against humanities--they are wrong. My quarrel is not with humanities field, which is essential for any cultured person, my quarrel with products of ONLY humanities studies trying to pass judgements on (military) issues which require years and years of rigorous study and experience.   

Bolton Speaks.

OK, John Bolton gave Russia, namely her National Security Council head, Nikolai Patrushev, the last Chinese warning against meddling in US elections--we now know that Russia already has evil plans to "meddle" in these elections by means of investing another 97 cents or, maybe whole 97 dollars, in trying to subvert American democracy and promote communism. We know that because US media, known for their integrity and honesty, talk about this all the time. So Bolton was very stern while warning evil Russkies against that.   

Then Bolton added that:

Patrushev had not sought Russian waivers on sanctions during their talks, he added.  

I can hear a surprising, and desperate in some quarters, "Wha-a-a-a-t?" from most (not all) American Russia "scholars" and "journalists" who still reside in their make-believe universe and are still waiting for Russia to crawl back to their feet begging for mercy. Yes, any minute now. But jokes aside, Bolton was not meeting Patrushev for this BS. Bolton might be an aggressive neocon of sorts but he is not completely stupid and is at least aware of the real score. Here what is at stake:

Bolton, a critic of the New START treaty agreed during Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration, said the two sides did not set a date for deciding what to do about the treaty due to expire in 2021.“We are very very early in the process of considering what we are going to do with New START or the INF treaty,” he said, referring to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces pact. 

That is warmer, much warmer. The United States wants to discuss START only, what a surprise, on American conditions. US thinks it can negotiate from this position, but, of course it cannot since it is not in such position anymore. Not for quite some time. These conditions could be expressed (it is not mine) in this simple phrase: You, Russia, reduce weapons which you have in exchange for us, America, reducing weapons which we don't have. This is not going to fly, obviously. So, because the United States realistically cannot close the gap in, at least openly disclosed, weaponry any time soon, it will try the last, it thinks trump (sorry), card it has--economic warfare on a big scale. That, plus deploying whatever it has all around Russia waiting for the next Gorby or drunkard like Boris emerge from the deep recesses of Russia's political cellar. Russians do not really give a damn as long as somebody doesn't do a really stupid thing and tries going "hot". After watching performance by Mr. Mudd and, considering his very high post in national security hierarchy, I have to allow for a non-zero probability of some spoiled brats on the top pushing, out of noble indignation with those nasty evil Russkies, for a military solution. 

So, what's left? Well, Patrushev is an immensely powerful figure in Russia and is more than authorized to explain to Bolton how real situation looks like. Of course, as always there will be a lot of PR on the US side and Russia will continue to seek compromises when necessary but, I am sure, Bolton was presented with the case in this first meeting that either it is quid-pro-quo or nothing at all. Choice is America's. I think the bargaining started but it is not about Grand Deal--time for that is long gone. How to call this process? Feel free to try your imagination. 

UPDATE: Ah, speak of the devil, or as Russians say--the grand piano in the bushes (Royal' V Kustakh). I don't hold Leonid Bershidsky in any serious regard in terms of serious global and economic policies--one can not expect any competence from liberal Russian bankster and journo by (Western) education, but even he has to admit:

As the U.S. begins to consider an all-out economic war, the two strategic questions it needs to answer are: what it is willing to pay to extract any concessions from the Putin government at all, and how long it is prepared to wait. Macroeconomically, Russia, with unemployment at a record low, modest inflation and $400 billion of international reserves, is unlikely to collapse before the U.S. unleashes a global energy or debt crisis that could prompt its allies to desert it. If less than maximum pain is applied, Russia could manage for years with relatively low growth. That is the basis for Putin’s calculations. It bodes badly for the current direction of U.S. policy. If Washington inflicts as much pain as it can — and nothing changes — it will be a painful failure for the superpower.

The point I am trying to make for years now is not just that US and its political and so called "intellectual" classes are absolutely unaware of real Russia--that is not really the news--US Russian "studies" field is pathetic. The point is that they are unaware about American real standing, military and economic, globally. That's the problem. The problem also with the Western geopolitical calculus--it simply doesn't work. As per "macroeconomic"--each time when I hear (read) this economic psychobabble, I cringe. 

Lavrov And Gerasimov "Inform" Merkel.

It is rather a peculiar development. No, not the fact of Lavrov meeting Frau Kanzlerin in Berlin as was agreed prior with Vladimir Putin. Nothing special about that. What is special and peculiar is that Frau Merkel also met with:

The meeting, agreed last week by Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin, was also attended by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and the head of Russia’s military general staff Valery Gerasimov, said the spokeswoman in a statement.No further details were given.

Valery Gerasimov is not the kind of guy who attends diplomatic meetings, him being present in Berlin together with Russia's foreign minister signals something very important in the making. Discussing Syria? Sure, seems natural but as Russia's news agencies report and I quote: "The issue of Ukraine was also discussed". I think, that this is it. 

Syria, no matter how important it is for the world today, would not have necessitated the Chief of General Staff to be in Berlin and meet the head of German State. After all, Berlin plays secondary role in Syria and, in fact, failed to participate in any meaningful military way there in supporting all kinds of terrorist groups, aka "rebels", "Free Syrians", unikorns etc. Ukraine, however, is a totally different issue. It was Frau Merkel and her cabal of sycophants both internal and external, who made Germany one of the main driving forces behind Ukrainian catastrophe which followed a violent coup inspired and financed by the combined West. So, Germany is one of the major culprits in creating a black hole in the midst of Europe and, accidentally, one of the main drivers behind hysterical Russophobia in Europe. We all know very well how "free" and "independent" German media are.         

So, is anything drastic expected to happen in Ukraine which is in a tail spin economically and mentally? Consider this:

1. Triumphant World Cup in Russia is over. 

2. Russia is surprisingly nonchalant about all those economic sanctions (hey, Deutschland, rings a bell?) by EU and here are two among a vast stream of facts which tell that Russia is getting ready to react "dramatically" to something (Ukrainian violence against Donbass).

Fact A: Russia is to completely localize (in Russian) manufacturing of high power gas turbines by 2019, moreover huge tax breaks will be given to companies using Russian-made equipment.  Recall who played huge role in this business in Russia prior to Ukrainian events? Right, Siemens.  Recall who is also a major player in this field in Russia? Right, General Electric. Hm. This is not manufacturing of lingerie, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are talking here about. 

Fact B: Russia raised, entirely legitimately, the pain threshold for Ukraine in and around Azov Sea. Now Ukraine will pay dearly for taking hostage the crew of Russian fishing vessel Nord. All, in violation of the mutually-agreed status of Azov Sea. This is not to mention, of course, some threats to blow up Kerch bridge which periodically heard from Ukraine. 

3. Ah, yes. Helsinki. Recall Putin's offer to hold referendum in Donbass, recall his very own warning to Ukraine not to do stupid things since it will be...well, the end of current Ukrainian statehood.   

Now, once one considers that Ukraine is an anti-Russia asset for globalist cabal in Washington and is, in fact, under the external control of Obama's operatives, against the facts that this whole Russiagate thing goes nowhere and fast, it is not only possible, but highly probable that people such as former VP Biden or HRC's State Department operatives (never discount McCain here), DNC and others will not be, in their desperation, against some conflagration in Ukraine. In fact, it becomes a very probable scenario--anything to sabotage Russian-American relations in general and Presidency of Donald Trump in particular.  It is a general scenario but this is precisely a scenario which would necessitate highly professional explanations from Chief of General Staff to some German state bureaucrat, however highest of them all, what she and her vassals in Europe must expect if their very own German Sons of Bitches in Ukraine will unleash a provocation which will provide enough Casus Belli for Russia's Southern Military District to start the final countdown for criminal Kiev regime and its pure Nazi accomplices. But these are just my thoughts. Boy, would I love to hear at least 5 minutes of Trump-Putin conversation tete-a-tete in Helsinki. In the same time, I can only imagine what kind of revulsion both Lavrov and Gerasimov felt towards this German leader who managed, after almost 70 years of Germany being denazified to help spawn a truly Nazi regime in Kiev.     

UPDATE: Lavrov and Gerasimov are already in Paris (in Russian) and met with Macron. In case of Paris visit, discussing Syria is natural, yet Ukraine was discussed there too. Hm. Syria, I can understand, Ukraine--well, one is left guessing now. 

It Finally Happened.

Yes, they finally met and this is the only way it is supposed to be. Without going into still unclear details of what was discussed--they will emerge later--it is the way things are done: leaders of powerful nations meet in person and talk. Everything becomes important: the tone of voice, a general disposition, even the touch during handshake--those things may often convey things better than words themselves. Rephrasing Sir Bernard Pares:"And knowledge alone is not enough without understanding, which is much more hardly won. To no countries does this apply more than to Russia and the United States....This gap has to be filled, or will it cost us dear."

That is how responsible adults behave.

I am no idealist, I stressed it many times, and I do not expect much from Trump presidency but what I do expect is that the world must be moved away from global confrontation and this can be done. The very fact that Trump-Putin meeting lasted almost five times longer than it was settled between parties (initially--half an hour) is a very good sign--yes, there is a lot what Presidents must discuss and personal relations will matter. Now that the first step is done--let CNN and the rest of cabal of media and Democratic Party activists have a seizure. 

Plans Within Plans....

There is a reason I quoted Frank Herber's Dune in the title of this post. Sure, Erdogan arrived to St. Petersburg and  held meeting with Putin. Many general statements were made but nothing changed and it shouldn't. Here is a decent piece of analysis from TASS news agency:

Analysts: Strategic triangle of Russia-Iran-Turkey hardly on agenda.

Fact is, I don't know where did this "triangle" idea come from? Ever Eurasianism-mongering Alexander Dugin went as far as to claim that fates of nations and even of civilizations were being decided in St. Petersburg and that Erdogan-Putin meeting was "historic". Well, it certainly was not and for a simple reason--Turkey needs Russia for her bargaining with EU and US.  True, after the coup attempt and seeing its proxies being obliterated by SAA and Russian Air-Space Forces in Syria, and with economic noose around her neck as a result of reckless downing of Russian SU-24, Turkey needs Russia, but only so far.  Yes, there is a very lucrative deal in the offering--Turkish Stream plus some other economic projects, but Turkey still remains a NATO member and firmly in the grasp, however slightly weakened, of Atlantist structures and she will remain there for a foreseeable future. 

Once all this lofty rhetoric about Russians and Turks bound to be friends and even allies dissipates, the reality remains unchanged--no alliances of any kind are possible between Russia and Turkey. Milking each-other for economic and geopolitical benefits--that is a totally different matter and this is precisely what happened in St. Petersburg. Russia needs a leverage of Turkish Stream to both bypass Ukraine (or whatever it became now) and to improve her position vis-a-vis Europe and this has been, all things considered, achieved. Yes, this is, actually, huge but hardly historic let alone implying any possible alliances or "triangles". After all, Iran is not exactly Russia's friend either and the status of Caspian Sea is still being discussed. Plus Iran is a player in the region and does not always like Russian influence there. For now, what happened in St.Petersburg is mostly economic discussion with hard questions of war in Syria left to be discussed later. I would say--good movement, or, rather, step in the right direction but no more than that.  But there are plans within plans and we may only guess what they are, since the play with Turkey (and Iran) is merely an episode, however important. My guess is that, in the end, the big play is for Europe, the real one, and the only goal here is to save her from herself and those who see her as merely a marketplace. Call it a hunch but, in the end, Russia, like no other, has an experience of saving Europe and paying the price with others taking credit. How it will be done? I wish I did know what Putin does;-)