Observers say Syrian President Bashar al-Assad still plays a pivotal role in his country and any plan devised for the Syrian crisis would fail if it does not take into consideration the right of the Syrian people to shape their own future.

Steinberg said the only viable alternative to resolving the Syrian crisis is a diplomatic solution.

“Ultimately the only viable option is a diplomatic solution and I think the Russians are initiating diplomatic work and concluded that they have to strengthen the credibility of Assad and the Damascus government’s position in order to effectively carry out a diplomatic solution,” he said.

The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which flared in March 2011, has reportedly claimed more than 240,000 lives up until now.