In the bad old days of the cold war, neither the US nor the Soviet Union was ever too bothered about making friends with uncomfortable allies. Ideology always trumped principle and both Washington and Moscow used to turn a blind eye to bad behaviour.

It is more difficult now, in this post-ideological age. At least, that is what Joe Biden, US vice-president, must have been thinking on his trip to the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine this week.