A chilling handshake between Obama and Putin, while Syria disintegrates | Jonathan Jones

This forced exchange of civilities is like a meeting between Pontius Pilate and Herod, both men guilty in the face of catastrophe

The devil has all the most convincing solutions in Syria. But will you shake hands with him?

President Obama looked extremely reluctant to do so at the UN yesterday. Then again the devil – or rather, Vladimir Putin – did not seem too keen on pressing the flesh with him either. Their public handshake was a terse and stiff occasion, over in a few camera flashes. They came out of a door together, quickly shook hands, and were gone. There was no repartee. There were no smiles.

Putin and Obama walk towards each other like marionettes. They raise their hands robotically

Related: The Guardian view on the bloodshed in Syria: Russia has a lot to answer for | Editorial

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