Light at the end of the tunnel?

The unexpected meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, left many speculating what really went on and why the meeting was arranged so hurriedly in the first place.

Putin has been reportedly working energetically on a solution to the Syrian conflict, now in its fifth year, after all other powers, including the US, failed to come up with a peaceful solution that would put an end to the terrible death and destruction witnessed by Syria.

Assad had no key adviser with him during his talks with Putin, which suggests that the discussions were highly sensitive and that he probably did not want anyone to know the content of his talks with the Russian leader. Not for now, anyway.

Some signs suggest that the Syrian president might be mellowing and willing to give in to pressure from Moscow, his main ally, especially because despite the military intervention of both Russia and Iran, the results on the battlefield were clearly not in Damascus’ favour.

Putin no doubt wishes to score a major victory on the international stage, which would bolster his image as a peacemaker, by brokering for Syria a peace deal that so far has eluded so many nations, including major capitals.

Successful Russian diplomacy on Syria would certainly earn Russia regional and international appreciation and increase Putin’s popularity among his own people.

The fact that the Russian president called several key leaders in the Middle East for talks, after his encounter with the Syrian president, could suggest that a solution to the Syrian crisis may finally be in the offing.

For the sake of the Syrian people, if nothing else, one hopes that the Russian diplomacy will indeed succeed.