Mikhail Bogdanov

This year?s New York City gathering of world leaders was the fifth U.N. General Assembly the defiant leader of Syria, President Bashar al-Assad, could survive despite numerous crimes he has committed against humanity since 2011. Under the shield of Russia and Iran, the Assad regime seems to have taken a deep breath as it has never been so close to fully collapsing as earlier this year. 

Russia and the United States are expected to take part in Syria peace talks in October, along with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, Russia's deputy foreign minister said Sept. 28.

Syria's Foreign Minister is to head to Oman on August 6 in his first visit to a Gulf country since the beginning of his country's brutal war in 2011, according to Syrian media.

Senior Turkish diplomat Feridun Sinirlioğlu is visiting Moscow for talks with Russian officials on a number of issues, including Syria, Iraq and Ukraine.