Russia’s Success in Syria Gives Moscow Many of the Strongest Cards in Talks

Russia’s success in "turning the tide of the civil war" in Syria crisis has given Moscow "many of the strongest cards" in the current talks; it has also put an end to the practice of "doing away with any leader the West dislikes," according to the London-based Financial Times.

Washington has got away with many of the "Arab Springs." However, in Syria Russia has clearly demonstrated that it "will not let the West do away with any leader" they dislike, the newspaper says.

And it is very likely, the outlet says, that Syria will supply President Putin with a foreign policy success.

"Russia’s air strikes in Syria threaten to cause Aleppo’s fall to Moscow-backed government forces and turn the tide of the civil war," the outlet acknowledges.

"If Aleppo should fall, Mr Putin might be open to peace talks more comprehensive than the partial ceasefire announced in Munich on Friday. In such negotiations Russia would hold many of the strongest cards," it further states.

"Russia has made plain that it sees itself as a muscular regional power, like the US, in the Middle East," the outlet explains, and "established the point" that it will no longer let the West to deal with the leaders they dislike in a way they dispatched Muammar Qaddafi back in 2011.

Another area of Russia’s possible success is Ukraine, it says, referring to the recent talks "without fanfare" between Vladislav Surkov and US assistant secretary of state for European affairs Victoria Nuland.

"Moscow’s enthusiasm for the Normandy format is apparently waning," the newspaper suggests.

However the progress of the talks remains to be seen, it finally states.