As the drumbeats of war are sounding loud and the warmongering rhetoric has gotten shrill, a group of Russian and American activists assembled in downtown Moscow to replant once again the symbolic US-Russia friendship birch tree that was initially planted nine years ago but had to be replaced several times due to their inability to survive. Some say it is due to the severe weather, and some, with a sense of humor, believe it is due to the toxic atmosphere in the relations between the two countries when the tree, as a living organism, feels it.
The first tree was planted on April 24, 2015, on the eve of the 70th Anniversary of the historical “Elbe River” meeting of the American and Soviet military, which became a symbolic event of their joint victory over Nazi Germany. The ceremony took place with the active participation of the US Embassy in Moscow. Then Ambassador John F. Tefft was a diplomat of the old “search for compromise” school, which had since been replaced by “rules-based international order” diplomacy, meaning U.S. world leadership, another word for “hegemony.”
His science and cultural attache, Andrew McLean, delivered a very emotional speech about the importance of the “Elbe Spirit” for future generations. He was followed by many other dignitaries and guests, including former senior CIA analyst Raymond McGovern during Reagan – Bush, Sr. days, who read Russian poetry and sang with the crowd the famous military hit “Katyusha.” Then, everyone got a shovel to plant the first US-Russia friendship tree.
As mentioned earlier, it didn’t survive. However, it was still alive the following year, when on April 25, 2016, next to this tree, the sculptural composition of three American and three Soviet soldiers shaking hands on the bridge of the Elbe River was installed. It was built by the famous Russian sculptor Aleksandr Burganov, whose statue of the greatest Russian poet, Aleksandr Pushkin, is installed on the campus of George Washington University, a few blocks away from the White House and State Department.
Ambassador Tefft was still in Moscow, and at the ceremony, the embassy was represented by three US Generals who spoke at the ceremony: then-current military attache Bruce McClintock and two former attaches, Kevin Ryan and Peter Zwack. McClintock shook hands with Russian cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, who, together with US Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, was commander of the 1975 joint US-USSR Appolo-Soyuz spacecraft.
This ceremony was the last time US diplomats took part in the following annual Elbe River ceremonies in this square, which became known, albeit unofficially, as the “American Corner.” They also ignored our invitation again this year, which shows the current sad state of US diplomacy, which refuses to send even a low-level diplomat for the symbolic act honoring war veterans.
Still, there was a glimpse of hope that things could be reversed to better times in April 2020, when we decided to bypass official diplomats and shoot up to the top by inviting Presidents Trump and Putin to participate in this ceremony. It was a long shot, but unexpectedly, we got a positive reply. No, they didn’t appear at the “American Corner” gathering but issued a joint statement.
Both presidents discussed the importance of this event and ended with encouraging words: “The Spirit of the Elbe” is an example of how our countries can put aside differences, build trust, and cooperate in pursuit of a greater cause. As we work today to confront the most important challenges of the 21st century, we pay tribute to the valor and courage of all those who fought together to defeat fascism. Their heroic feat will never be forgotten.”
Trump haters saw this message as additional proof that he was Putin’s stooge, and this was the last time any positive high-level exchange happened between the two nations.
Nevertheless, in addition to officials, there are also the public or people’s diplomats who understand the critical urgency of the moment and try to send a different message.
Two events in the US and Russia happened almost simultaneously at the end of September. In Kingston, NY, at the Four Corners of Freedom on Crown and John Streets, Roger Waters, founder of Pink Floyd; Judge Andrew Napolitano, host of Judging Freedom podcast; Scott Ritter, former U.N. weapons inspector, columnist; Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News; Gerald Celente, founder of Occupy Peace, and publisher of the Trends Journal magazine; Randy Credico, comedian, and WBAI radio host delivered a peace message to the assembled crowd and via Zoom around the world.
In Moscow, Russian and American peace activists assembled in the “American Corner” to replant once again the birch “US-Russia Friendship Tree” and send the same Peace message across the ocean. Passers-by couldn’t believe they saw American and Russian flags waving together as a sign of friendship between the peoples of nations in these dangerous times.
As one of the observers of both Kingston and Moscow events via Zoom said: “Given the tenor of our times, these meet-ups feel a bit like what I imagine early Christians experienced as they gathered in small, discrete groupings hoping to avoid being fed to the lions before a ravening crowd in the Coliseum; the more friends, the more strength and courage in numbers.”
Edward Lozansky is President of American University in Moscow.