Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow. His escape shows a major setback for Russia. This loss ends the Kremlin’s influence in Syria. It also raises questions about Vladimir Putin’s grip on power.
Putin’s critics celebrated the news. Russian activist Ilya Yashin shared a photo of Assad’s banner burning. Ukraine’s former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Putin sacrificed Assad to continue his war in Ukraine.
Observers compare Assad’s fall to that of Viktor Yanukovych. The former Ukrainian president also fled to Russia in 2014 after protests ousted him. Syrians now explore Assad’s abandoned palace. Ukrainians did the same with Yanukovych’s estate.
Unlike Assad, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stayed as Russian forces neared Kyiv. Assad’s departure coincided with Zelensky’s trip to Paris. There, he met French President Emmanuel Macron and President-elect Donald Trump.
The collapse of his regime is a major blow for Putin. Videos show rebels destroying an Assad monument in Tartus. Russia operates a naval base in the city. Putin’s military support had propped up Assad for a decade.
Assad’s defeat now exposes Putin’s weaknesses. Analysts believe this will affect Russia’s stance on Ukraine negotiations. Expert Tatiana Stanovaya also predicts Putin will harden his position. She notes that Assad’s fall adds pressure on Putin.
Despite this, Putin remains unyielding. His rivalry with the West continues. Conflicts in Ukraine persist. Assad’s ouster shows the fragility of Putin’s alliances. It also shows challenges to his global ambitions. (Courtesy of CNN)
