This is with reference to the article “Putin’s political bombshell” (March 16) by Osama Al-Sharif. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to pull out troops from Syria came as a surprise. It is correct that the Russian withdrawal will prove to be a game changer on the ground and in the regime-opposition talks being held in Geneva but the wisdom behind this decision is beyond comprehension.

Why did Putin enter the Syrian war theater in the first place? Did he achieve his goal of decimating Daesh? I think not. It seems that Putin wanted to reclaim the superpower status in the world and to assert its role in global affairs. He has effectively achieved that goal but at a high humanitarian cost. I must say that politicians are ruthless creatures. They only think about their interests.

Russian intervention in Syria propped up a brutal regime, which went on a killing spree. Innocent Syrian civilians paid the price of Russian intervention and Iranian assistance to Assad with their lives. Thousands have been rendered homeless, who are now begging European authorities to let them enter their countries.