Fascinating. Three-way, or four-way, chess.
It’s easy to see who the most powerful player is, and we should have guessed this would be what would happen next. Not that Putin cares about the Kurds and their desire for an independent nation of their own. The Bear is stepping in to avoid the world outrage that would occur if Turkey were allowed to slaughter the Kurds, which they are probably itching to do. And more important, doesn’t want to complicate his main goal, which is to secure the oil and gas wealth for Russia and protect his essential European market from competitors.
As a comforting side result, a confused people who don’t really know who their true friends are are getting their hide saved.
Russia wanted Iran out, now they want Turkey out. But of course deals are being made about the eventual spoils. There’s always more behind the scenes.
Let them fight it out, then move in and take over the ‘winner’, eh?