German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the international community perceives Russia as an important military and political player amid its operation in Syria.
In an interview with the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Steinmeier said Russia launched its operation in Syria partially in order to challenge the provoking actions of the United States and Washington’s perception of Russia as just one of the regional powers.
The outgoing German foreign minister said that it appears that Russia has reached its objective and that the world now perceives Russia as an important political and military player.
Meanwhile, Steinmeier said say that military power alone will not ensure that Russia has enough partners and that political means need to be used in order to solidify Russia’s influential position on the international arena.
The joint Russia-Turkey efforts on Syria provide only temporary relief and that a permanent resolution of the conflict will need the involvement of other forces, the German diplomat told Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
He slammed UN mediation efforts on Syria but predicted that Syria peace talks will in the end be conducted only under UN auspices.
Source: Sputnik
