Putin’s secret weapon for a Syrian end game?

There are strong indications that Moscow is coming to grips with the concept of a post-Assad Syria but there is still a deep, pervasive mistrust of Russia’s intentions, writes Nicolay Kozhanov 

Russia’s rapidly expanding military presence in Syria is viewed by many as an attempt to bolster the regime of president Bashar al-Assad rather than attack Islamic State forces.

There are strong indications, however, that Moscow is coming to grips with the idea that a political solution for the region would include a post-Assad Syria.