Putin's diplomatic offensive against IS

On Friday, the UN Security Council voted to investigate the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war. A yes vote on the investigation was certain, as Russia and the USA both agreed to vote for the motion before the session.

The vote was a rare case in which Washington and Moscow were able to work together on issues regarding Syria. It ties into events that occurred in the fall of 2013. At the time, Russia was able to convince Syria to destroy its chemical weapons in order to avoid a military attack by the United States.

Lavrov presents "Putin's Plan"

Following Russia's contributions toward resolving the years long fight over Iran's nuclear program, the Syrian resolution is the second opportunity in recent weeks for the West to praise Russia. Moscow, which has garnered much criticism for it actions in Ukraine, will no doubt be pleased about the positive headlines.

Apparently, Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to continue his diplomatic offensive and is preparing the next step. Russia is now offering to help the West and Middle Eastern states in their fight against the terror organization "Islamic State" (IS). Russian media outlets have begun reporting on the so-called "Putin Plan."

As of yet, the Kremlin does not want to divulge all the details. On Wednesday, Putin's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said that it was too soon to do so. However, he pointed to recent meetings between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his US colleague, Secretary of State John Kerry.

John Kerry not convinced

Lavrov has already made some suggestions public. On Wednesday, in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, Lavrov said that Moscow proposes forming a "broad anti-terrorist front" against "IS," which would include the armies of Syria and Iraq, as well as Kurdish fighters. It was there that Lavrov presented Putin's proposals to Kerry. It was the second meeting between the two top diplomats in just a few days.

Yet, Lavrov was apparently unable to convince Kerry about the plan. Nonetheless, the two were in agreement that "IS" presented a common enemy that should be combatted together. "For now we don't have a joint approach on how specifically we can do it," according to the Russian Foreign Minister.

"Moscow wants to protect Assad"

One sticking point will certainly be the fate of the Syrian government. Lavrov made it clear that the US-led coalition against "IS" would have to "forgive" Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to the Russian online newspaper RBC. Russia has supported Assad since the civil war erupted in Syria in 2011. The US, however, has said that the Syrian president has no legitimacy whatsoever, and has repeatedly demanded that he step down.

Middle East expert Georgi Mirski, from the Russian Academy of Sciences, told DW that he does not believe that "Putin's Plan" contains any new ideas. He says there is already a coalition against "IS," and that the Russian president simply wants to protect Assad. Further, he pointed to recent US statements announcing that they could potentially bombard Syrian army strongholds. "That would be the end of the Assad regime," says Mirski. "Putin cannot have that."

The Russian Middle East expert went on to say that Moscow would not be sending troops into the fight against "IS." That fact was confirmed by Putin's Speaker Peskov, who also ruled out the participation of Russian air force units in the fight against "Islamic State."

Mirski described the "Putin Plan" as an attempt to "appear to be taking action." He doesn't believe that there will in fact be real cooperation between the USA and Russia on the Syria question: That is hardly possible after Russia's annexation of Crimea.

The number of Russian "IS" recruits is rising

Uwe Halbach of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin (SWP) sees an internal motivation behind "Putin's Plan." "The appraisal of 'IS' within Russia has changed," as the expert told DW. He says that Russia is much more concerned about the dangers posed by "IS" than it was a year ago.

A few months ago, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov described "IS" as Russia's "most important enemy." According to the Russian Security Council, some 2,000 Russian citizens are currently fighting for "IS" in the Middle East. Most come from Muslim dominated regions in North Caucasus, such as Chechnya and Dagestan.

From the Caucasus to Syria

"We have seen that in the Islamist underground in North Caucasus, the so-called 'Caucasus Emirate,' an increasing number of commanders have gone off to join 'IS' leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi," says Halbach.

The Russian media has also been reporting on more and more young Russian men and women joining "IS." This spring, the story of Moscow philosophy student Varvara Karaulova made headlines. She was on her way to join up with "IS" when she was stopped at the Turkish-Syrian border and sent back home.

"Putin's Plan" for a coordinated fight against "IS" was hinted at in July. Sergey Naryshkin, Chairman of the Russian State Duma, said that it was a "tragedy" that Russia and the West had grown so far apart, instead of confronting "IS" together.

Russia intends to continue its diplomatic offensive in the coming days and weeks. Unconfirmed reports have suggested that Putin may even use his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York this September as an opportunity to present the plan himself.