pcr has a good question about the putin and his actions; 

When Putin Sold Out Syria and Iran, Did He Sell Out Russia?

Paul Craig Roberts

Many wonder why Putin abandoned Syria after fighting 9 years in Syria’s defense. Putin’s abandonment of Syria might have been influenced by China’s conditional support for Russia in Ukraine.  China’s conditions include “no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting.”  These conditions might also explain why Europe and the US have been spared strikes in response to their attacks on Russia with long range missiles. In his speech yesterday (December 14) to United Russia, the dominant political party , Putin redefined his threatened strikes against the West.  They have been reduced to  retaliations within Ukraine.

The Chinese communique published in Xinhua, the official state news agency of the People’s Republic of China, on Medvedev’s meeting with Xi, reads: “On the Ukraine crisis, China has repeatedly emphasized the need to uphold the three principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party [this only applies to Russia], to promote the easing of the situation as soon as possible, Xi said. He added that China will continue to adhere to its consistent position and work with the international community to create favorable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis.  https://english.news.cn/20241213/5619c58e58e44decb2cd7438a6e3b5b1/c.html

Medvedev said that the Russian side speaks highly of China’s position on the Ukraine crisis, pays attention to the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis, an initiative put forward by China, Brazil and other countries, and is willing to actively promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.  It sounds like, as in Syria, Russia will abandon a battlefield settlement where it has the edge and make a paper settlement where Russia always loses.........more........