The decision by Russia to recognise breakaway regions in the Caucasus is against its strategic interests and could lead to further conflict in the region, according to Sweden’s foreign minister.

Carl Bildt told the FT: “They are opening up a Pandora’s box of questions that will be extremely difficult to answer. If you are interested in the stability of the Caucasus – and Russia is more interested in that than anyone else – you should be very careful with borders. . . They have fought two wars in Chechnya.”