Subject: Re: Let’s See If This Pans Out for Putin
No, you don't.

Yes, you do. You always maintain diplomatic channels. It costs you nothing (of significance).

These people know 100% that how Russia is treated diplomatically is an important window into where the West is headed on economic issues,

Right - they’re complete unaware of the fact that Russia is a pariah state and that many of them have been personally sanctioned by the west. The red carpet and the foie gras were totally more relevant to them.