In this week’s media highlights, Leonid Bershidsky of Bloomberg View writes about the Kremlin’s nervousness over reports of Russian casualties in Syria. Also, Steven Pifer of the Brookings Institution writes about what compromises the U.S. should make in negotiating a settlement of the Ukraine conflict with Russia.
Russian soldiers attending a funeral ceremony on July 14 for 23 servicemen who were killed by the collapse of a barracks in the Siberian city of Omsk. Photo: Dmitry Feoktistov/TASS
Russian Casualties Would Take a Toll on Assad
Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg View
The Russian government acknowledged the first death of a soldier in Syria this week, but called it a suicide. Unlike in Ukraine, where the Kremlin denies having troops and therefore can deny casualties, it will be harder for Russia to avoid reports of military deaths in Syria. Will Putin limit Russia’s involvement in the conflict because of the political risk posed by casualty reports?
How the West Propped Up Putin
Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic
The failure of the peace agreements in the Ukraine conflict should have made clear to Western leaders that they cannot deal with Vladimir Putin the way they deal with one another, Kasparov argues. The self-exiled Russian opposition leader says the U.S. and Europe need to react more forcefully to Russia’s military incursions, since diplomacy is possible only from a position of strength.
A Five-Nation Plan to End the Syrian Crisis
Jimmy Carter, The New York Times
According to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Assad is stubborn and unwilling to heed the words of anyone but his equals and his allies, which means that a peace plan in Syria is unlikely to materialize without the participation of Iran and Russia. Carter argues that five-nation talks also involving the U.S., Turkey, and Saudi Arabia could lead to an agreement that would establish an acceptable government in the country.
Sarkozy’s Russian Fling
Nicholas Vinocur, Politico EU
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy used to be a fervent admirer of the United States, but since he left office three years ago he has pivoted toward Russia. Earlier this week, he even traveled to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin, whom he calls a “friend.” What has inspired Sarkozy’s change, and will he promote his close relations with Putin while competing for the presidency in 2017?
One More Time on Avoiding a New Cold War
Steven Pifer, Brookings Institution
In negotiating with Russia over the Ukraine conflict, does the U.S. need to choose between making a conciliatory settlement and starting a new Cold War? Steven Pifer debates with fellow policy experts Jeremy Shapiro and Sam Charap, arguing that the U.S. may need to make concessions to avoid heightened tensions, but that there should be a limit.
