"No meeting of minds between Putin and Cameron."
No - then why does today's times carry a photograph of Putin and one of his henchmen sharing a box and chatting with Cameron at the Olympics?
As you say, Russia is an "Ex" Communist Putin's regime" - ie a capitalist country so there is no political mileage in that one. China is one of the west's (particularly Britain's) most valued trading partners, so I suppose it is out of the question to suggest a trade embargo against them until they lift their veto on Syria? No? I thought not.
"practical non-lethal support"
There are decades of precedents of the US (obediently supported by Britain - good little poodle that she is) giving 'practical support in the form of military and economic intervention to those threatening the West's interests - right up to that given in Libya, but not in Syria it seems, where the consequences to the civilian population have already proved 100 times worse, and are quite likely to escalate to an international crisis involving chemical weapons (not to mention the support that the only people to provide any practical opposition - the fundamentalists - are likely to get from the people, should Assad be defeated).
The "practical non-lethal support" given (or not given, as the case may be) has made not the slightest difference - the civilian death toll continues to rise, Assad escalates his war crimes, and the Syrian people continue to suffer - as a headline in the Times last week so clearly put it "We are keeping our eye on you (Assad)", and that is all we/they are doing - standing by and watching as if Syria has become an Olympic event.
Maybe it's time you upped your demand for sending Assad riot-control equipment????
Jim Carroll