It has been a long time since statements by Russian officials regarding Russian-American relations have sounded as good-natured as they did after the negotiations in Moscow with US Secretary of State John Kerry. Sergey Lavrov found the American guest to be in a cooperative mood, and both sides acknowledged that his negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin were full and substantive. On the Syrian question, they spoke in unison: Peace is the only option, the conflict threatens to create a failed state, consideration should be given to the idea of convening an international conference and both Moscow and Washington are committed to the Geneva conventions and will continue to look for a solution that is acceptable to all.
Given the state of Russian-American relations in recent months, the allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Syria and Israel’s interference in the conflict, compromise seems doubtful. Russia’s position is certainly not changing; for over two years now, it has held firmly to a single set of postulates, and all hope to detect movement in its approach has been in vain. Rather, it is the US that is refining its point of view — not due to Russia, but as enthusiasm wanes regarding what Syria might look like after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leaves. Still, Kerry’s visit should be seen as highly symbolic, both for relations between Washington and Moscow and for the outlook in Syria.
