He welcomed him on the red carpet on American soil, patted him on the back. The pride of the American Air Force flew over the most powerful men in the world, they got into a black limousine together.

Then, Vladimir Putin said that their talks took place in an atmosphere of mutual respect, and reiterated that the situation in Ukraine was a consequence of a security threat to Russia.

His host, Donald Trump, used perhaps the most hackneyed cliché of international relations: our talks were constructive.

He then added that they agreed on many things and"only a few things that are not so crucial and one that is probably the most crucial" remain to be resolved.

Then, in front of the journalists, he turned to Putin and said: we will probably see each other very soon.

It would probably not be an arrogant journalistic ambition to assume that the negotiations have not progressed precisely because Putin, with his demands, continues to deprive Ukraine of the right to decide its fate in Europe.