Russia has achieved the goals it set itself after the beginning of the operation of the Russian Air Forces in Syria. In connection with the operation, the decision to withdraw Russian troops was logical, the head of programs in Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the German Society for Foreign Policy, Stefan Meister, stated in an interview with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza.
Above all, he noted that the decision by President Vladimir Putin "was not discussed with the US or other negotiators in the Syrian conflict. Thus, Putin once again demonstrated his unpredictability and surprised the West."
According to the expert, one of the main tasks of Moscow in Syria was to achieve "the recognition by Washington of its role of an equal participant in the resolution of international crises, as well as an escape from isolation in the context of the Ukrainian crisis." "Putin achieved these aims and the withdrawal of troops was logical," Meister said.
"It is also worth adding that the costs of the military campaign of $2.5 million a day and the interest in not being involved in that mission for a long period of time. Russia joined the war without a long-term strategy, and the present time, characterized by the truce and military success is a good reason get out of the military campaign," he said.
"Finally, there is Moscow's growing dissatisfaction with the actions of Bashar al-Assad, who didn't want to respect the ceasefire from the very beginning and didn't listen to Moscow's recommendation. After the Munich conference we saw critical articles in the Russian media about the Syrian President. The partial withdrawal of troops improves Putin's negotiating position regarding Assad. Moscow may re-intensify its mission at any time, or slow its pace down," Stefan Meister concluded.
