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.<br /><br /> Moscow’s 70th WWII Victory celebration on May 9th was a show of strength and pride.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> As for defeating Hitler, he thanked “the people of Great Britain, France and the United States for their contribution”.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> Russia denies Western and Ukrainian accusations that it has been arming the separatists.<br /><br /> U
