Putin Has All the Trumps in His Hands in Political Poker – German Media

“While in public Merkel and Hollande deny any link between the Syrian problem and the Ukrainian crisis, behind closed doors diplomats have long been seeking a kind of a compromise with Russia,” DW political observer Bernd Riegert wrote. “Russia’s role and prestige will increase and in exchange the Kremlin will make certain concessions on the crisis issues.”

By setting up military operation in Syria, Russia put the screws on the Western countries, which don’t have any bargaining chips to force Kremlin to change its policy.

The author continued by stating that the compromise agreement between the West and Russia would be mutually beneficial: the role of Moscow and its political authority would increase, and Kremlin in its turn could at some extent depart from its stance.

The Syrian crisis could eventually lead to the collapse of a united Europe, which has plunged into political crisis after thousands of migrants from Middle East countries had fled to the EU. And the pressure born upon the West by Russia with its operation in Syria gives some extra points to Kremlin, Rigert concluded. 

“Russia keeps playing political poker. And neither [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel, nor [French President Francois] Hollande have no trumps on their hands,” Bernd Riergert wrote in conclusion.