Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
As the civilian death toll continues to mount in Syria, Russia finds itself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Different regional actors had different agendas and priorities for the recent Seoul Nuclear Security Summit.
Although Russia seeks to remain the critical broker between Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian opposition, its stance on Syria is beginning to shift as the prospects for Assad's long-term rule diminish.
The Russian government may be changing its attitude towards Syria and penalizing the Assad regime for failing to heed Moscow's advice.
The fact that the Red Cross has appealed to Putin for authorization to provide humanitarian relief to Syria proves that Russia has become an indispensable player in dealing with the Assad regime.
After winning Russia's presidential elections, Vladimir Putin faces a number of major domestic and foreign policy challenges.
As he returns to the presidency, Putin must prove to the Russian protestors that he has heard their voices and demands for reform.
Despite the Kremlin's need for domestic and international legitimacy, there was widespread irregularity and fraud in Russia's recent presidential elections.
It is not certain that Putin will win the elections on Sunday, but it is very likely. If Putin is elected, he will face implications in Russia's domestic policy and its relationship with the United States.
Although Russia has already missed its opportunity to salvage key political and economic interests in Syria, it will likely continue to oppose foreign military intervention and efforts aimed at regime change.
