Putin's Syria Peace Gambit Seeks to Cash in Air Campaign Gains
- Russia aims to secure Assad territory as leverage with Europe
- U.S. warns Russia to stop bombing `moderate' Assad opposition
A Russian Airforce pilot outside a Sukhoi Su-35C fighter jet during a flight at Tsentralnaya Uglovaya Air Field.
Photographer: Yuri Smityuk/TASS via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Vladimir Putin is trying to cash in the gains of the biggest military wager of his career.
Russian airstrikes have helped Putin’s Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad drive back rebel forces after five years of fighting. The momentum clearly established, the Kremlin gave the green light to an agreement with the U.S. and other powers on a partial cease-fire and humanitarian aid shipments due to take effect this week.