Serbia was recently given the green light to begin talks on a unified trade regime with members of the Eurasian Union. Unsurprisingly, the European Union was not pleased with its candidate's potential move towards the Russian-dominated economic bloc.

The sanctions can potentially become a bargaining instrument in the negotiations between the diplomacy of the West and Russia.

The UK’s unwillingness to risk military conflict with Russia is understandable. Corbyn’s justification for non-intervention is much less so.

We should hope these new challenges in Ukraine and in the south with ISIS will strengthen the alliance once more for the future – a future with a potentially bigger challenge involving the economic and military rise of China.

States must stand against those who hijack it, however, by its very nature, R2P is a political tool and tensions exist with the ideological nature of international law.

The key prerequisite for any future move towards a more co-operative relationship – that both sides are genuinely interested in bringing the current tension to an end – appear increasingly remote.

All the money, good governance and reforms in the world will come to little if Ukraine is dismembered by Russia and its allies in the east of the country.

Over the past year, Turkey has taken several stances against what have otherwise been broadly held Western policy positions.

The prospect of another frozen conflict thus appears increasingly likely, with significant implications for long-term stability and security in Europe.

The European Union and United States have a responsibility to raise their voices and actively confront the Russian Federation with respect to minority rights and freedom of expression in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.