Taurisk, I agree. There must be many people who have had a hand...

Taurisk,

I agree. There must be many people who have had a hand in shaping world events, even if only to a small degree, in most cases believing they were doing what was right, only to learn at some time in the future that they were enabling evil. This has happened to many returning soldiers who commit suicide as they grow older and wiser and more knowledgeable of world events. That seems to be hushed up in the media. I certainly wouldn't want to wake up to reality in that situation.

Like you I see Lavrov as genuine. In some videos of meetings you can see him barely hiding his anger and dismay at some of the political games and lying playing out in front of him, but Putin is far more patient and seems to be able to settle him down and restrain him, so as not to show his hand to the opposition or to burn any bridges.