Aleppo Violence Shows Russia, US at a 'Deadlock' Over Syria

The recent developments around the Syrian crisis, including a Russia-bashing UN Security Council meeting on Sunday, show that differences between Moscow and the West over Bashar Assad’s future are getting sharper.

Over the last several days, the ceasefire in Syria has teetered on the verge of collapse. Fighting in Aleppo intensified after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on Friday, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities untenable.

On Sunday, the UN Security Council held an extraordinary meeting to address the rise in violence in Syria. The meeting was initiated by the United States, France and the UK. During the meeting, Western diplomats harshly criticized Russia and Iran, claiming that Moscow and Tehran have supported the Syrian government in prolonging the war.

Despite numerous violations of the ceasefire, politicians and experts say that it hasn’t failed yet. On Monday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said that the US-Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement is still viable.

"We need a serious process, with no cheating, and without people changing their stance every two days. The agreement was [achieved], and the only thing needed is for it to be implemented instead of changing positions," said Russia’s envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin.

The differences that have recently deepened in mutual rhetoric between Moscow and the West may not signal the deterioration of ties between the two parties.

"Such rhetoric looks more like a media performance. But real diplomacy is always cautious and hidden from the public. I wouldn’t say that Russia and the US want to abandon cooperation," Andrei Kazantsev, senior analyst at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, told RBK.

Alexei Malashenko from the Carnegie Moscow Center suggested that the recent events, including the attack on a humanitarian convoy and the rise of violence in Aleppo are only a pretext for the main issue – the fate of President Bashar Assad.

"Russia is again interested in Assad staying in power while the West insists that Assad must go. As for this issue, the situation in Syria is a deadlock," Malashenko said.