[Skybird]

The Russians do not lie here - they indeed have acchieved most of their objectives. Its just that due to ignporing reality and wishful thinking the West failed to recognise that the Russians' goals and the West's goals were two different pairs of shoes.

The Russians goal was not to necessarily wipe out the IS. Most of their combat was not focussed on the IS anyway, but any opposition to Assad, no matter which faction. Putin claimed before it began that he was about "to support and strengthen the legal government of Syria", which in Russia's view of things is Assad. And they indeed have achieved that objective. Assad gained ground recently, many if not all the IS' and other opposition groups strongholds are isolated and cut off from supply, the logistcal supply lines are interrupted, parts due to Russia, parts due to Western military as well.

The announced objectives indeed are achieved. And why should the Kremlin want to wipe out the IS when it is so nice a nuisance, or better a PITA, for the West and Europe and America, binds their focus and resources, and destabilises the ME so to notoriously set up new problems for the West? Better keep the sting in your enemy's flank sharp and alive than pulling it out. Also, an active IS will keep the mass migration streams alive, putting Merkel into more trouble and helping to destabilise Europe.

Welcome to the strategic world of Realpolitik in which illusions and ambitioned hopes will lead you nowhere.

The Russians keep their air and naval bases, and can reinforce again their presence in Syria any time they want to do that. And a totally wiped out IS is not in Russia'S interest.