Now, after being in power for over two decades the “Putin system” is showing signs of fatigue. Paradoxically, Vladimir Putin is more vulnerable now than ever to street pressure, after seeking total control over Russian political institutions.
Will the dangerous military escalation in northern Syria undermine the Astana accords and the understanding between Russia and Turkey? Or, is the common interest between the two countries deeper than the local disagreement about where to draw the front lines in Idlib province of Syria?