Putin Appeals to Americans on Syria Intervention

Russian President appeals to Americans, warns that U.S. intervention is becoming “ineffective and pointless.”

Maayana Miskin,

Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Flash 90

Russian President Vladimir Putin appealed directly to the American people on Wednesday night with an opinion piece in the New York Times. Putin urged Americans to oppose intervention in Syria without UN Security Council approval, and warned that doing otherwise would be dangerous.



Putin warned that American intervention has failed to achieve its goals.

“Force has proved ineffective and pointless. Afghanistan is reeling… In Iraq the civil war continues,” he noted.

He warned of grave consequences if the United States intervenes in Syria without Security Council approval.

“The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries… will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism... It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance,” he wrote.

“Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan ‘you’re either with us or against us’… The world reacts by asking: if you cannot count on international law, then you must find other ways to ensure your security.

“Thus a growing number of countries seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction,” he argued.


He reiterated Russian claims that Syrian President Bashar Assad was not behind the use of chemical weapons against civilians in his country.



Putin urged support for Russia’s proposal for an agreement that would see the Assad regime willingly give up its chemical weapons.

“I welcome the president’s interest in continuing the dialogue with Russia on Syria... If we can avoid force against Syria, this will improve the atmosphere in international affairs and strengthen mutual trust.”

Putin's appeal follows U.S. President Barack Obama's address to the nation in which he made the case for intervention.