With the Russian military operation underway in Syria, President Vladimir Putin is "back in the game". Now, the EU is considering the issue of anti-Russian sanctions from another angle, professor Herfried Munkler told Die Presse.

Vladimir Putin�s "genius maneuver" in�Syria drove him out�of isolation, Herfried Munkler, a German political analyst and professor at�the Humboldt University of�Berlin, told�Die Presse.

According to�the analyst, since�making the decision to�engage in�the Syrian conflict, Putin is "back in�the game".
"Since then, the EU has been considering its sanctions against�Russia from�another angle. Considering Russia a strategic rival, Europe is unable to�solve its problems in�the southeast and in�the south," the professor pointed out.


This was clear before, especially if "geography is taken into�account", but�now has become obvious amid�the European refugee crisis, he added.

However, he added that "everything has its price." According to�Munkler, if Russia builds up�its military involvement in�Syria it may carry long-term consequences.

Syria has been engulfed in�an armed conflict since�2011. Over 220,000 people have been killed. The government forces are fighting various militant groups, including Daesh (Islamic State) and the al-Nusra Front.

On September 30, Russia launched airstrikes against�terrorist positions in�Syria, at�the request of�President Bashar Assad.
By Sputnik