There's that talking point again.
How about the “JV team”? Is that better?
Russia did not send a “a second-tier team”, they sent a what is very much a top tier team - arguable a higher level team than the Russian Diplomatic delegation.
It's just not a diplomatic team.
Russia sent Putin's top personal aide and Russia's Defense Minister.
One can assume that protracted negotiations are not at the top of the Russian agenda.
The team Russia sent is the type that issues ultimatums, not the type that negotiates terms which kind of gives a hint of where the situations stands at this point.