Just when a ceasefire finally seems to be holding in Ukraine, a new front is opening for Russian muscle-flexing, with Vladimir Putin defending a stepped-up military presence in Syria. He has made no secret of his support for Bashar al-Assad, repeatedly pushing for the Syrian president to be part of a broader coalition of forces to take on the IS group. At a time when the West is wavering over past calls for regime change in Damascus, will a Russian deployment ensure Assad sticks around for good?
