Inside Story

What are President Putin’s plans for Syria?

With the evacuation of Aleppo under way, the Russian leader turns his attention to a political settlement.

It has been a stop-go situation in east Aleppo as thousands of Syrians – both civilians and rebel fighters – are still waiting to get out.

The chaotic process has already been halted several times.

Activists say government forces opened fire on convoy trucks on Friday. But the government says it was the rebels who started shooting at the troops.

Russia, Syria’s ally, is playing a major role in the operation. Its soldiers are in control of checkpoints along the route out of eastern Aleppo.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is trying to organise peace talks on Syria, possibly in Kazakhstan.

Turkey would be involved but significantly, both the UN and the US would be excluded.

What is Putin’s game and what does he hope to gain?

Presenter: Dareen Abughaida

Guests:

Marwan Kabalan – Syria analyst and head of policy analysis at the Arab Center at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies

Metin Gurcan – Independent military analyst and a columnist with Al Monitor

Pavel Felgenhauer – Defence analyst