In The Media
Petr Topychkanov
{
"authors": [
"Petr Topychkanov"
],
"type": "legacyinthemedia",
"centerAffiliationAll": "",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
"Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center",
"programAffiliation": "",
"programs": [],
"projects": [
"Eurasia in Transition"
],
"regions": [
"Levant",
"Middle East",
"Syria",
"Russia"
],
"topics": [
"Security",
"Foreign Policy",
"Global Governance"
]
}
Source: Getty
In The Media
Putin Says He Wants Concrete Proof Before Deciding on Syria
Although Putin’s statements have been seen as flexible rhetoric, Russia’s policy toward Syria has not changed.
Published on Sep 5, 2013
Source: RFI's World News Explained
RFI spoke to Petr Topychkanov, an analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center, who says Putin's comments are an about-turn from his previous rhetoric supporting Assad. However, despite Putin’s statements, which have been seen as pivoting and flexible rhetoric, Topychkanov maintained that Russia’s policy toward Syria has not changed.
Topychkanov said that the sticking point remains the evidence and confirmation of the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime or possibly another party, information required by Russia prior to renewed engagement or an alternative course of action. Russia's influence, leadership, and continued support of Assad is a key determinate of the balance of power in the conflict, and as such will prove a major factor in its outcome. The primary juncture on the horizon remains the prospect of a unilateral strike, without UN approval, by the West against regime targets in Syria—this continues to be the main point of concern in relations between Putin's Russia and the West, Topychkanov concluded.
About the Author
Petr Topychkanov
Former Fellow, Nonproliferation Program, Moscow Center
Topychkanov was a fellow in the Carnegie Moscow Center’s Nonproliferation Program.
- Iranian and Russian Perspectives on the Global System
- Premonition of Nuclear ThreatIn The Media
Petr Topychkanov
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie Europe
- Russia’s Imperial Retreat Is Europe’s Strategic OpportunityCommentary
The war in Ukraine is costing Russia its leverage overseas. Across the South Caucasus and Middle East, this presents an opportunity for Europe to pick up the pieces and claim its own sphere of influence.
William Dixon, Maksym Beznosiuk
- Is the Radical-Right Threat Existential or Overstated?Commentary
Amid increased polarization and the influence of disinformation, radical-right parties are once again gaining traction across Europe. With landmark elections on the horizon in several countries, are the EU’s geostrategic vision and fundamental values under existential threat?
Catherine Fieschi, Cas Mudde
- Europe and the Arab Gulf Must Come TogetherCommentary
The war in Iran proves the United States is now a destabilizing actor for Europe and the Arab Gulf. From protect their economies and energy supplies to safeguarding their territorial integrity, both regions have much to gain from forming a new kind of partnership together.
Rym Momtaz
- Taking the Pulse: Is France’s New Nuclear Doctrine Ambitious Enough?Commentary
French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his country’s new nuclear doctrine. Are the changes he has made enough to reassure France’s European partners in the current geopolitical context?
Rym Momtaz, ed.
- The Iran War’s Dangerous Fallout for EuropeCommentary
The drone strike on the British air base in Akrotiri brings Europe’s proximity to the conflict in Iran into sharp relief. In the fog of war, old tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean risk being reignited, and regional stakeholders must avoid escalation.
Marc Pierini
