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Russia pullout meant to bolster Syria ceasefire: Analyst

Wednesday, 16 March 2016 8:49 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 16 March 2016 8:48 AM ]

Russian servicemen prepare a Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jet in Latakia Province, in northwestern Syria, December 16, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

Press TV has interviewed James Jatras, a former US Senate foreign policy analyst, and Jim Walsh, with the MIT Security Studies Program, to discuss Russia’s military withdrawal from Syria.

Jatras says the pullout is part of a Russian “carrot and stick” policy toward terror groups, where, after pounding them for months, Moscow is now encouraging extremists to abide by the current cessation of hostilities.

Russia is basically letting them know that “this is the path forward for them if they do not want to be destroyed,” he says.

The analyst further argues that the move would provide the US and its allies with an “exit ramp” to settle for the best deal they can get after failing to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

However, Jatras also floats the possibility that the withdrawal may be the result of a US offer, in which case he thinks Russian leaders should “take with a grain of salt” any such proposals.

“The ‘Assad must go’ crowd is still very loud here in Washington and we can’t really bank on what people in Saudi Arabia and Turkey are going to do and what Washington is telling those people,” he explains.

He says Assad is not disappointed by the move as such decisive measures are not taken unless fully coordinated with Damascus.

For his part, Walsh, describes the move as an “abrupt U-turn” as Russia has long been a firm ally of Syria. He thinks Russians are in fact pressuring Assad to step down.

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www.presstv.co.uk

Syria ceasefire