© Sputnik / Mikhail Klimentyev
Comment: The political equivalent of "when you stop beating your wife".
During a tense one-to-one exchange with Vladimir Putin in Osaka, Theresa May said "there cannot be a normalization of our bilateral relationship until Russia stops the irresponsible and destabilizing activity." Predictably, the outgoing British Prime Minister then jumped to her well-worn allegations about the Skripal poisoning affair.
According to her spokesperson, May naturally mentioned "the use of a deadly nerve agent on the streets of Salisbury," claiming again that the UK has "irrefutable evidence that Russia was behind the attack."
Comment: 'Highly likely' irrefutable evidence! The best and most reliable kind.
Returning to the future of UK-Russia ties, May said that "we remain open to a different relationship, but for that to happen the Russian government must choose a different path."
Comment: Um, thanks but no thanks?
Putin, however, believes all this is the opposite of the truth. The scandal surrounding the Salisbury incident did sour relations between Russia and the UK, thus damaging economic ties, he had earlier told the Financial Times.
"All this fuss about spies and counterspies, it is not worth serious interstate relations ... We need to just leave it alone and let security agencies deal with it," he insisted.
These "spy scandals" led to a deadlock in relations "so we could not develop our ties normally and support business people," he said. The UK is interested in fully restoring bilateral relations, just as Russia is, Putin stated. "I hope, at least, that a few preliminary steps will be made."
He reiterated that the whole Skripal case had little to do with Russia as London has, right to this day, failed to present any credible proof of Moscow's alleged involvement. "They say, 'You poisoned the Skripals.' Firstly, this must be proved."
But there is a new world emerging, and the undercurrent from this rhetoric, where trade and diplomacy are desired and beneficial, to keep the economy of countries running, to provide jobs and income for the population, it's called a uni polar world.
As the headlines have shown today regarding the EU in support of Iran, gives an indication of this, and to give Russia as an example, sanctions don't work in a mono polar world, such as the US is proposing.
The world is a big place and if one looks to a uni polar world the a world with unlimited resources, opportunities could be endless, with a win win situation.
No, it's all black and white, to quote George Bush the junior, "Either you are with us, or against us"