Ever since Barack Obama became US president in January, the west has made significant attempts to establish a new relationship with Russia. Mr Obama talked about “pressing the reset button” on US-Russia relations after the tensions that dominated the Bush years. This week, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the new Nato secretary-general, followed suit, telling the FT he wants to start an “open-minded and unprecedented dialogue” with the Kremlin on security issues. These words have been accompanied by action to allay Russian concerns, such as an effective halt to Nato’s eastward expansion. Yet in spite of the goodwill, Russia appears neither engaged nor serious about tackling the world’s big security issues. This cannot go on.

The Kremlin has been constructive in some areas, of course. Russia has begun arms control talks with the US that should conclude in December. Russia is allowing the US to transit lethal goods across its territory to Afghanistan, assisting Nato’s struggle there. But more often than not, western diplomats wonder what kind of world the Kremlin wants to create. This week, it emerged that Russia is funding Venezuela with $2bn for weapons purchases, fuelling an unwanted arms race in Latin America. Russia has just begun military exercises with Belarus, provocatively called “Zapad” – or “west”. On Iran, meanwhile, Russia looks like it will again block attempts to rein in Tehran’s nuclear programme.