“What we have on the table right now is sort of a proposal to use the best effort and best capabilities of both the American and Russian sides," Wagner explained to Sputnik. "The question becomes really what is the intent of both the sides. If we bear in mind that they have long term opposition to what they would ultimately like to see in Syria.”
Wagner spoke further about the US presidential candidates and how, according to him, Hillary Clinton would be more hawkish and skeptical about collaborating with Russia over Syria if she takes office.
“Mr. Trump could be very interesting, actually, because he has this ‘bromance’ with Mr. Putin. How that would manifest itself is anybody’s question, but if it were to be continued I think Donald Trump would want to put his own thumbprint on it,” Wagner said.
Addressing current diplomatic efforts to work together to resolve the Syrian crisis, the expert said that if it leads to something positive, that would be a good thing.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has called for a new round of intra-Syrian negotiations to be convened as soon as possible. He stressed that UN's Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, has so far been unable to gather all those together who should take part in forming Syria's future.
Lavrov also said he had discussed measures that could be taken to implement Russia-US agreements on Syria with US Secretary of State John Kerry.
According to the minister, if prior agreements reached with Kerry in Moscow are implemented, “it will be possible to guarantee the separation of normal opposition members from Daesh and al-Nusra Front terrorists.”
Kerry has also noted progress in talks with Russia on a potential military partnership. He described the plan on intelligence sharing and targeting information as the best chance to limit the fighting that is driving thousands of Syrian civilians out of their home country.
Addressing this renewed effort by US officials to work with Russia, Wagner said, “I think the question of trust is central. Whether each side, Russian and American can trust each other, whether they will both do what they are saying they will do and whether the intended objective will ultimately turn out to be the case.”
He added that it is crucial to understand that those who make policy are not necessarily the ones making war. “Those are two different departments and they are supposed to converge at the executive level.”
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups.
On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups such as Daesh, as well as al-Nusra Front, both outlawed in Russia and a range of other states, are not part of the deal.
