Syria’s war An unlikely band of brothers

Russian officials viewed the UN’s findings differently. At first they described them as inconclusive. But following talks with Syria, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, condemned the report as “politicised, preconceived and one-sided”. Small wonder that Mr Assad, after presenting Mr Ryabkov with purported new evidence 
http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21586600-deal-struck-america-and-its-allies-russia-envisages-removal