Russia has proposed a new UN resolution on Syria, condeming the violence used against civilians by “all parties, including disproportionate use of force by Syrian authorities”.

Although officials from the US and Europe described the current draft as too mild, they welcomed it, remaining hopeful that a sterner stance can be negotiated with Moscow.

US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said,

“Hopefully we can work with the Russians, who for the first time at least are recognising that this is a matter that needs to go to the Security Council”.

Michael Tatham, a British official at the UN,

“We are ready to work with that text. But let me be clear: we believe that we need a Security Council resolution that matches the gravity of the situation on the ground in Syria. And in our view the text circulated by Russia does not do this.”

Little over a fortnight after, along with China, Russia voted against a UN resolution condemning the Syrian regime's violence, whilst less than a week after the Russian foreign minister described the West's criticism of Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad as "immoral". In September, China and Russia blocked an attempt to condemn the Syrian regime's violence at the UN Security Council.

Moscow's change of heart follows the UN High Commissioner, Navi Pillay's call to refer Syria to the ICC for the deaths of over 5000 civilians in what amounts to "crimes against humanity", as well as the release of damning eye-witness testimony by Human Rights Watch, that senior commanders ordered troops to kill civilians.