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Reading Between the Lines of Putin’s Op-Ed

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New York Times op-ed does not complicate international negotiations over Syria’s chemical weapons. Contrary to common perceptions, Putin is pragmatic and capable of making deals.

by Andrew S. Weiss

published by

Bloomberg TV

on September 12, 2013

Source: Bloomberg TV

Speaking on Bloomberg TV’s Taking Stock, Carnegie’s Andrew Weiss said that Vladimir Putin’s op-ed in the New York Times does not complicate Secretary of State John Kerry’s negotions over Syria's chemical weapons, as President Putin and other Russian officials have previously made statements similar to the ones in the op-ed. More important than the op-ed, Weiss suggested, is the question of what Russian negotiators will sign on to and what Putin will realistically be able to get Bashar al-Assad to do regarding his chemical weapons. Weiss emphasized that, contrary to popular perception, Vladimir Putin is not a “Soviet retread,” but a pragmatic figure capable of cutting deals.

This interview was originally broadcast on Bloomberg TV.

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.