Kremlin relishes US pullback from Syria
Moscow, Oct.13: From Syria, where the US pulled back in the face of a Turkish offensive, to Ukraine, where the newly elected president saw his image dented by a US impeachment inquiry, new fault lines and tensions offer the Kremlin fresh opportunities to expand its clout and advance its interests.
In Syria, the US military withdrawal leaves Russia as the ultimate power broker, allowing it to help negotiate a potential agreement between Syrian President Bashar Assad and the Kurds who were abandoned by Washington.
And in Ukraine, where Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a comedian turned president, has found himself drawn into the US political battles, Russia may use the volatility to push for a deal that would secure its leverage over its western neighbor. Washington's abrupt decision to ditch the Kurds contrasted sharply with Moscow's unwavering support for its ally Assad, which helped his government reclaim the bulk of the country's territory in a devastating civil war.
Along with military power, Russian President Vladimir Putin has relied on diplomacy to achieve his goals in Syria, reaching out to regional powers —from Iran to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Turkey.
NATO member Turkey has become a particularly important partner for Russia. Even though the two countries have backed opposite sides in the Syrian conflict, they have pooled efforts to negotiate a de-escalation zone in the Syrian province of Idlib and co-sponsor talks on forming a committee that would draft a new Syrian Constitution.