Russia's military build-up in Syria reinvigorates political solution

"Most certainly, the Russian presence will enhance chances of the political solutions in the region, because it restores the political balance to the region, which has suffered from the weight of the US player who was playing alone with no competitor," Maher Ihsan, a political analyst, told Xinhua.

He added that "just days after the Russian military presence was upped, we have started witnessing an obvious shift in the international stances towards the crisis in Syria, more specifically about the future of President Bashar al-Assad."

The change in the international stance was reflected by the recent comments made by several Western leaders, who previously demanded the departure of Assad, but said now that Assad could be a part of the solution.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop recently said that "the reality is President Assad is still in Syria, the reality is Russia is backing President Assad. Russia's involvement (in negotiations with Iran over their nuclear program) has been said to be very positive by all of those negotiating that agreement.

"If we use that as an example of Russia's preparedness to be part of a solution rather than part of the problem, then we can have some optimism that Russia's involvement is positive," he said.

In another statement that was considered "groundbreaking," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said al-Assad should be part of negotiations with the West.

"We have to speak with many actors, this includes Assad, but others as well," she said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has probably been more critic of Assad than Syrian oppositions, said recently that "a transition process" in Syria involving al-Assad "is possible."

"The process could possibly be without Assad, or the transitional process could be with him," he said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry also indicated that while "Assad has to go," the "modality" and "timing" of his departure were a matter for discussion.

"We're prepared to negotiate. Is Assad prepared to negotiate, really negotiate? Is Russia prepared to bring him to the table?" he stated.