The meeting of the top US and Russian diplomats in the Black Sea resort of Sochi signals a telling shift in global security realpolitik, even from a few days ago.
Moscow’s 70th WWII Victory celebration on May 9th was a show of strength and pride.
As key Western leaders skipped going, a gesture against the Kremlin’s behaviour concerning Ukraine over the last 18 months (their ambassadors attended), President Putin said international co-operation has been ignored more and more for decades.
As for defeating Hitler, he thanked “the people of Great Britain, France and the United States for their contribution”.
Two days later, in a corner of Europe where thousands have been killed in an armed conflict between separatist forces and the Ukrainian government, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic waved its own banner and Russia’s for the first anniversary of its referendum on self-rule.
Russia denies Western and Ukrainian accusations that it has been arming the separatists.
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