This week Washington turned down Russia’s proposal to join efforts in battling ISIS in Syria. Moscow was prepared to send top-level negotiators with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the head to discuss the matter. American officials privately raised issue of distrust towards Russian initiative. However, the move seems to indicate unwillingness of the White House to participate in what is seen as strengthening of Russian posture in the Middle East.

       Moscow’s proposal to talk was not the first gesture urging U.S. cooperation on Syria. In an interview to Russia One Channel over the weekend, President Putin claimed that Russia informed Washington of its military activities prior to their beginning. Later Putin and Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu openly discussed possibility of uniting efforts of Syrian government with the Free Syrian Army against ISIS.

       Speaking at the investment forum in Moscow on Tuesday Putin criticized the U.S. over unwillingness to cooperate: “If we want to be effective, if we want not to simply shoot and make missile strikes, but reach a political settlement, then we need to motivate the forces inside the country for joint work between various forces on Syria’s territory”.

       By now, these efforts bear no fruits. Washington is leaning toward its previously stated aim of ousting Bashar al-Assad and declines cooperation with Russia that is not purported to the same goal. However, the U.S. are not eager to press for this solution militarily and are reluctant in supporting Syrian opposition. Moreover that the latter tends toward radicalization. It seems that Washington does not want to join efforts with Russia assuming this would mean allying with Iran and Syria, while simultaneously strengthening Russia’s presence in the region. Fight against ISIS is lost somewhere in the policy elaboration process.

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