By talking directly to Russia, the US is signalling that Russia as an equal whose interests matter, while the interests of Europe and Ukraine are irrelevant. Just as Kissinger and Nixon managed to peel China away from the USSR in the 70s, the US may be trying a similar tactic today by handing over Europe in an attempt to isolate China from Russian support.
By talking directly to Russia, the US is signalling that Russia as an equal whose interests matter, while the interests of Europe and Ukraine are irrelevant. Just as Kissinger and Nixon managed to peel China away from the USSR in the 70s, the US may be trying a similar tactic today by handing over Europe in an attempt to isolate China from Russian support.
So realistically we never ended the Cold War.
As was evidenced by NATO failing to disband in the 90s.