While all sides seem entrenched in their positions, analysts say a few Assad opponents seem to be softening their line and conceding that he could remain in power temporarily, while Moscow does not seem wedded to the strongman long-term. “As far as I understood” from Assad, “he is ready for such dialog”.
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Russian Federation has rejected Western calls for Assad to step down.
“The best scenario would be to wake up one morning with Assad gone”, the Saudi FM said.
He said: “We believe that the Russian interference in Syria is very risky because it exacerbates the conflict“.
The fact that Assad has survived the war is largely due to powerful allies Iran and Russian Federation, which have used political, financial and military means to shore up his forces. “Our servicemen who are on the territory of Syria are, of course, fighting against terrorism and in this sense they are protecting the interests of the Syrian people, but not only that”.
The U.S. and its regional allies have decried Russia’s strikes, insisting Moscow is not mainly targeting Islamic State as it claims, but other groups battling the regime in Damascus, and that the Kremlin’s intervention will only prolong the fighting.
Russia’s actions in Syria are fueling the country’s war, which can only be ended with an unconditional exit of President Bashar Al-Assad, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said ahead of a meeting with his U.S., Russian and Turkish counterparts.
“We are ready to make our contribution not only during armed hostilities in the fight against terrorism but also during a political process”, Putin told Assad.
Russian Federation expects the meeting to produce “an honest and objective exchange of views about the situation which will give an opportunity to map out a clear path for activating efforts to achieve a comprehensive political resolution”, said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign ministry.
He said that Moscow, under Soviet rule, had close relations with then Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, the father of the current Syrian leader but that there had been a cooling of relations when Bashar succeeded his father.
The bombing runs originating from Hemeimeem air base in Assad’s coastal stronghold of Latakia province are winning praise for Putin from displaced Syrians who are living in a camp near the provincial capital.
Speaking to the Valdal discussion forum, Putin said there could be no distinction between terrorists, and no militants in the region could be classed as “moderate”.
“Let’s not play with words and divide the terrorists into moderate and not moderate”, said Putin. Igor Konashenkov said that in the past 24 hours, Russian planes made 53 sorties, hitting 72 targets – mostly weapons and ammunition depots and other infrastructure.
Zarate said Russia’s airstrikes are making a difference “psychologically” for the Assad regime, but he added that they have certainly not done much to push ISIS back.
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Secretary of State John Kerry says the USA, Iran, Russian Federation and Europe agree Syria should be united and that Syrians should choose their own future leadership. Putin also defended Russia’s bombing campaign, saying it would set the stage for peace talks.
