In the long and difficult grammar of great-power conflict, the word 'useful' carries enormous weight. Moscow's measured characterization of its conversations with American envoys over Ukraine — neither dismissive nor encouraging — reflects the ancient diplomatic art of keeping a door ajar without stepping through it. As of early September 2026, Washington and Moscow continue to speak across a vast divide, finding enough value in the act of talking to continue, even as the fundamental disagreements that sustain the war remain untouched.