Moscow analysts: No ceasefire until Syrian-Turkish border closed

The Kremlin does not believe a ceasefire or a successful campaign against ISIS – or any other terrorist group in Syria – is possible without closing the Syrian-Turkish border. Analysts in Moscow made this comment in response to the Munich accord announced early Friday on the cessation of hostilities in Syria. The analysts stressed that nothing could be achieved so long as “a river of foreign jihadis, arms and merchandise flowed into Syria from Turkey, with contraband oil flowing in the opposite direction.”

In the view of Moscow sources, the siege of Aleppo and the large territorial gains made in just a few days by the Syrian army, Hizballah and Iranian “volunteers” validated the Russian military doctrine that a war could be won by an air offensive.