For the U.S. and Russia, True Progress in Syria Is Still a Distant Prospect

The United States and Russia may have reached a cease-fire agreement in Syria, but the ramifications almost certainly will be less drastic than many would like. The July 7 agreement covers the three southwestern Syrian provinces of Quneitra, Daraa and Sweida, and marks a new level of cooperation between the United States and Russia on the Syrian conflict. Previously, their coordination had been limited to deconfliction mechanisms aimed at preventing an accidental skirmish. The White House has made it clear that it hopes to use this agreement with Russia as a springboard, meant to increase negotiations with Moscow aimed at settling the conflict. But the end of the Syrian war remains a distinctly distant prospect, especially given that the new cease-fire agreement already has been violated multiple times in the past week....