Russia is increasing its efforts to mediate a solution to the Syrian conflict, and is calling on its Damascus allies to engage in dialogue with opposition groups seeking to overthrow the regime of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad. The Kremlin has also extended an invitation for talks to the Syrian National Council, broadly acknowledged as the main rebel group. Moscow has strongly backed the regime’s efforts to put down the rebellion since hostilities broke out two years ago, but Russian officials have recently acknowledged that rebel forces are gaining momentum and may be able to militarily overcome the government. Moscow’s concomitant diplomatic shifts may have come too late, however. There is little reason for opposition leaders, perceiving the possibility of outright victory, to accommodate themselves to dialogue with the Syrian government.

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