Putin announced on March 14 that the air campaign has achieved most of its objectives and paved the way for a peace deal. His officials have made it clear that some aircraft will stay in Syria and air strikes will continue. The partial withdrawal has left opposition forces attending UN-brokered talks suspicious, although it is unlikely directly to affect their decision to engage or walk out.
The West will be more prepared to engage with Moscow because of its military and diplomatic power, but no thaw is imminent.
NATO will reassess its already evolving strategies in light of Russian military successes.
The progress of peace talks will depend on the Syrian government's willingness to compromise on replacing Assad.
Syria is heading for 'soft partition' into an Assad rump state in the west, with the rest divided between Kurds and jihadists.
Ending the conflict with negligible casualties will play well with Russian voters in the September parliamentary polls.
