Reports of a phone call between the US president-elect, Donald Trump, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin (although quickly denied by the Kremlin) have given a first flavor of the tone and direction of their relationship in the immediate future. According to the Washington Post, Trump spoke with Putin on November 7, warning him against any escalation in Ukraine and reminding him of "Washington's sizeable military presence in Europe."

Regardless of whether it happened or not, any – if even only indirect – exchange of messages between the pair should be heeded by America's allies in the West, as well as Russia's major partner to his east: China's Xi Jinping. And there has been plenty of such messaging over the past few months.