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When Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor of Russia in Global Affairs, was interviewed yesterday on World at One, he made a comment which - even allowing for English not being his native tongue - was alarming.

He was referring to the outcome of the European Union talks on Syria whereby it was agreed not to continue the arms embargo, thus allowing for the possibility that Britain and France - if so disposed - would be able to send weapons to the opposition forces.

In Mr Lukyanov’s words, the EU and Russia were ‘playing a game’ by offering support to the side in the conflict they favoured in the hope that the other side would feel under pressure to sue for peace...