The Collapse Of The Syrian Ceasefire Is Harming U.S. - Russian Relations

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov before their meeting on Syria, in Zurich, Switzerland, January 20, 2016. © Jacquelyn Martin / Reuters

Patrick Smith, Fiscal Times: The Failed Syria Ceasefire Pushes US-Russia Relations to the Brink

Unless there’s a quick and drastic turn for the better in Syria, the US may reach its moment of truth with Russia. If Washington is simply unable or unwilling to work with Moscow to resolve the conflict, it’s likely that our much-worsened relations with Russia will be irreparable for the foreseeable future.

This would be the very worst of the many undesirable legacies President Obama passes on to his successor come November.

What happened between the ceasefire in Syria Secretary of State Kerry agreed on just 10 days ago with Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, and now? A week into the deal, it appears the agreement has done nothing but push the conflict to the very edge of chaos.

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WNU Editor: Some are still optimistic that this relationship will work .... The U.S. and Russia are actually cooperating in Syria. Can it work? (Sara Bjerg Moller, Washington Post). What's my take .... with the collapse of the Syrian ceasefire all but certain, Moscow is going to step back and wait for the next U.S. administration to take power.