Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has never posed such a vexing problem to US policy-makers as it does now. After a brief period of looking inward during much of President Barack Obama’s first term, Russia has returned to the international stage with zeal under Vladimir Putin. Russia is militarily involved in Syria, supports separatists in eastern Ukraine and areas of Georgia and has even been accused of trying to meddle in the US presidential race. Thus, Russia was central in the Iran nuclear negotiations and is a player as well as negotiator in the Syria truce effort. The conflicts in Syria and Eastern Ukraine will not end without Russian buy-in, and Russia will have to be involved in any new effort to bring North Korea back to denuclearisation talks.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 29, 2016 16:52 UTC