How Russia Is Brokering Peace in Syria

A series of television reports by the BBC (summarised by the BBC here ) give an insight into the Russian strategy in Syria. Under the cover of the truce, Russian mediators are flooding across Syria, negotiating local ceasefires between the government and various armed militia groups.  It seems that Syria has been divided up by the Russians into different sectors, with the Russians appointing a senior mediator (always a high ranking army officer) in each one.  Under his supervision, teams of negotiators visit the villages where they broker local ceasefire deals.