Russian Delegation Meets With Israeli Leaders To Discuss Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Mikhail Fradkov (L) and Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Alexander Bortnikov in Moscow, Dec. 19, 2015.Reuters

Haaretz: Russian Envoy Secretly Visits Israel for Talks on Syria

Alexander Lavrentiev and large Russian delegation meet senior Israeli officials, discussing potential UN-backed diplomatic talks to end Syrian civil war.

Russia’s special envoy on Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, visited Israel secretly last Thursday, where he held talks with senior Israeli officials regarding international contacts over a potential diplomatic agreement to end the Syrian civil war.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution a week ago on launching UN-backed negotiations between Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime and members of the opposition and rebel groups. Israel did not object to the resolution publicly. However, there is concern in Jerusalem that an international agreement over Syria will strengthen Iran and Hezbollah.

Update #1: Russia envoy on Syria secretly visits Israel (Arutz Sheva)
Update #2: Russian Envoy Visited Israel on Dec.24 to Discuss Syrian Settlement (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: I am not optimistic on what these talks will accomplish. There are major differences among all the sides in this conflict that finding a compromise formula is (in my opinion) next to impossible.