The World

Supporters of Bashar al-Assad greet the motorcade of Russian minister Sergei Lavrov in Damascus earlier this year. Reuters

There’s been a lot of noise in the last few days about Russia shifting its position on Syria in the aftermath of the international outrage over the Houla massacre. In fact, every few months, as Syria slides ever more deeply into civil war, we hear the same noises.

Surely, diplomats and analysts say, the Russians must at some point recognise that the status quo is untenable, that Bashar al-Assad is a liability, that unless they loosen their support for him their interests and their naval base in Tartous will be jeopardised when a new government comes in.

But do they? British, Turkish and American officials say it is too early to tell whether Russia is willing to accept a transition that excludes Assad. It is under pressure and it is engaging more with western governments, but whether this will translate into a new attitude remains to be seen. The US will be testing the Russian position tomorrow when Fred Hof, state department advisor on Syria, holds meetings in Moscow, on what the US says should be a transition plan that includes Assad’s exit. Read more