Thanks to its skillful diplomacy, Russia has taken leading positions in providing a solution to the Syrian crisis; Moscow has outmatched Washington both militarily and diplomatically to such an extent that even Washington’s allies now come to Moscow to “probe Putin’s intentions” rather than listening to the State Department, according to Le Figaro.

Russia’s military operation in Syria has changed the course of war in the country enabling President Assad to ease the grip over Damascus, says an article in the French daily.

And the liberation of Palmyra came as a climax to this “efficient and well-coordinated ground-aerial campaign.”

Russia has outperformed Washington both militarily and domestically to such an extent that major participants to the conflict now come to Moscow to “probe Putin’s intentions” and pass their messages to him.

The author cites as an example the recent trip of Qatar’s Foreign Minister to Sochi to meet with Russia’s President and Foreign Minister in what was described as a bid to “unite efforts” to secure a ceasefire in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said he was conveying a message from the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, when he met with Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov in the Black Sea resort.

Russia’s current position enables it to dictate its own terms for the further peaceful agreement on Syria, the article further reads.

It cites as an example the three-day extension of the ceasefire between the Syrian government forces and rebel groups in Aleppo, in northern Syria.

It was first announced Friday night in Moscow, the newspaper notes.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the extension was made at Moscow’s initiative and would also apply to the coastal province of Latakia. The cease-fire will last 72 hours, from May 7 until 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday (Damascus time), 21:01GMT Monday.

The United States then agreed with Russia to extend a cessation of hostilities agreement.

The newspaper however concedes that regardless of the channels the warring parties use, it will be no easy feat to reach a final diplomatic solution to the conflict.