How Putin’s Leverage Shaped the Syrian Ceasefire

On Syria, Russia’s President Putin is having his way not just vis-à-vis Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but also the United States.

By Gareth Porter, March 29, 2016 | http://www.theglobalist.com/putin-kerry-syria-ceasefire-united-states/

Takeaways

• Putin is having his way not just vis-à-vis Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but also the United States.
• Putin has leverage over the US policy in Syria, while Kerry has no similar leverage over Russian policy.
• Kerry asked Obama to carry out attacks on Assad forces, so he could have “leverage” in negotiations with Russia.
• Russia’s on-the-ground success gave Putin an advantage in negotiations with US over a Syrian ceasefire.
• US as part of the ceasefire deal pledged to “enforce the cessation of the flow of weapons” into Syria.
• Russia has ruled out any requirement for Assad to resign but Iran fears that assurance is not ironclad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S Secretary of State John Kerry have clearly been the primary drivers of their respective governments’ policies toward Syria. http://www.theglobalist.com/putin-kerry-syria-ceasefire-united-states/