Putin's ice hockey diplomacy reveals lasting scars of sport's soft power
Briefly

In a recent call, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed halting attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, yet shortly after, Russia bombed it again. Amid this context, plans were revealed for US and Russian ice hockey matches, symbolizing a controversial concession by Trump to Putin. The significance of hockey in Russian culture is profound, as it historically intertwines with geopolitical narratives. Underlining this relationship, past Soviet teams were direct military proxies, using the sport to manifest national strength against Western individualism.
The decision for the US and Russia to resume ice hockey games marks another concession from Trump to Putin, reflecting an unusual form of soft power.
Following their call, which suggested a ceasefire on energy attacks, Russia bombed Ukraine's infrastructure soon after, highlighting a breach of diplomatic trust.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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