The United States and Russia have announced a diplomatic initiative that would bring together representatives from the Syrian regime and opposition forces to negotiate a framework to end the Syrian conflict.
Russia previously demonstrated little desire to help forge an agreement between the Syrian regime and opposition, but now seems committed to current efforts to form a transitional government.
David Hartwell, principal Middle East and North Africa Analyst at IHS Jane's, emphasized that the current round of diplomacy is significant as much for relations between the U.S. and Russia as for Syria.