Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement yesterday that his forces would start pulling out of Syria must be welcomed though doubts remain about his actual intentions. In another positive development, Putin instructed his diplomats to step up the push for peace. His call comes as the United Nations-mediated talks have resumed in Geneva to find a solution to the five-year war.
The given reason for Russian pullout is that Moscow has achieved all its objectives behind the Syrian operation. At least one thing is clear: the Russian intervention has strengthened the hands of Bashar Al Assad and helped turn the war in his favour by reversing months of gains made by rebels with the help of foreign troops. Russian troops also helped thwart the advances of the rebel and Islamic groups. But some rebel groups have said the pullout decision is as surprising as the decision to launch strikes. There is no deadline for completing the pullout and according to reports, some forces would remain at a seaport and airbase in Syria’s Latakia province.
While Putin’s decision needs to be welcomed, Syrians and their Arab and Western allies are looking for a more balanced policy on Syria from Moscow which can lead to a negotiated settlement. Putin’s no holds barred support to Assad has been responsible for a continuation of the crisis and has scuppered the chances for an end to the war.
Putin’s action might have come from a realisation that Assad has regained enough power to defeat the rebels and even if his forces can’t, Moscow has the option of sending its troops again. This was confirmed by the Syrian regime. In Damascus, a government official said Assad’s office had agreed to the reduction in the Russian air force presence because it had helped the Syrian army to make significant gains, adding that that Moscow had promised to continue support in “confronting terrorism”.
Time is running out in Syria to end the war. A tenuous ceasefire is the best thing that has happened in the last several months, but this cessation of hostilities cannot continue indefinitely unless it is supported by peace efforts. The United Nations mediator Staffan de Mistura has voiced his concern eloquently when he told that the warring parties that there was no “Plan B” other than a restart of the conflict if the first of three rounds of talks, which are aimed at reaching a “clear roadmap”, failed to make progress. The current talks are the result of intense efforts made by the UN running into months and come amid a marked reduction in fighting after last month’s ceasefire sponsored by Washington and Moscow and accepted by Assad’s government and many of his foes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement yesterday that his forces would start pulling out of Syria must be welcomed though doubts remain about his actual intentions. In another positive development, Putin instructed his diplomats to step up the push for peace. His call comes as the United Nations-mediated talks have resumed in Geneva to find a solution to the five-year war.
The given reason for Russian pullout is that Moscow has achieved all its objectives behind the Syrian operation. At least one thing is clear: the Russian intervention has strengthened the hands of Bashar Al Assad and helped turn the war in his favour by reversing months of gains made by rebels with the help of foreign troops. Russian troops also helped thwart the advances of the rebel and Islamic groups. But some rebel groups have said the pullout decision is as surprising as the decision to launch strikes. There is no deadline for completing the pullout and according to reports, some forces would remain at a seaport and airbase in Syria’s Latakia province.
While Putin’s decision needs to be welcomed, Syrians and their Arab and Western allies are looking for a more balanced policy on Syria from Moscow which can lead to a negotiated settlement. Putin’s no holds barred support to Assad has been responsible for a continuation of the crisis and has scuppered the chances for an end to the war.
Putin’s action might have come from a realisation that Assad has regained enough power to defeat the rebels and even if his forces can’t, Moscow has the option of sending its troops again. This was confirmed by the Syrian regime. In Damascus, a government official said Assad’s office had agreed to the reduction in the Russian air force presence because it had helped the Syrian army to make significant gains, adding that that Moscow had promised to continue support in “confronting terrorism”.
Time is running out in Syria to end the war. A tenuous ceasefire is the best thing that has happened in the last several months, but this cessation of hostilities cannot continue indefinitely unless it is supported by peace efforts. The United Nations mediator Staffan de Mistura has voiced his concern eloquently when he told that the warring parties that there was no “Plan B” other than a restart of the conflict if the first of three rounds of talks, which are aimed at reaching a “clear roadmap”, failed to make progress. The current talks are the result of intense efforts made by the UN running into months and come amid a marked reduction in fighting after last month’s ceasefire sponsored by Washington and Moscow and accepted by Assad’s government and many of his foes.
