German Foreign Ministry: Russia manages to challenge US in Syria

The international community perceives Russia as an important military and political player amid its operation in Syria, the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in an interview with the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

According to Steinmeier, Russia launched its operation in Syria partially in order to challenge the provoking actions of the US’s perception of Russia as just one of the regional powers. The German foreign minister said that it appears that Russia has reached its objective.

Steinmeier did say that military power alone will not ensure that Russia has enough partners and that political means need to be used in order to solidify Russia’s influential position on the international arena, Sputnik reports.

Steinmeier noted that the joint Russia-Turkey efforts on Syria provide only temporary relief and that a permanent resolution of the conflict will need the involvement of other forces.