Syria’s future

Now that Russia and China have blocked U.N. attempts to halt the bloodshed in Syria, the Kremlin has assumed the lead in resolving the crisis with the arrival of a diplomatic delegation in Damascus Tuesday. How it exercises that leadership will be seen in the message carried to Russia’s longtime ally, President Bashar Assad, who is becoming more and more isolated by other world powers.

Using their Security Council veto, Russia and China, opposing what they called regime change, blocked a U.N. resolution endorsing an Arab League plan to have President Assad step down to pave the way for a transition to a democratic government. Since then, Damascus has intensified its assault on protesters, especially in the city of Homs. More than 5,400 people have been killed in the uprising since March.

Turkey denounced the veto as a “fiasco.” Germany called it “appalling,” and the United States said it was a “travesty.” The United States and European Union have imposed economic sanctions against Syria. The Obama administration recalled its ambassador in what it called a suspension, not a break in diplomatic relations. Britain, France, Italy and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council are pulling their ambassadors from Syria due to President Assad’s refusal to accept Arab attempts to end the country’s bloodshed.

The economic and diplomatic measures, though, leave China and Russia as the major allies with the power to influence President Assad’s next move. That will depend on Russia’s position conveyed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in talks with President Assad.

Russia has a national interest in keeping President Assad as an ally. Not only is its influence among other Arab nations at stake, but Russia’s only foreign military base is in Syria. Russia also supplies arms to Syria.

Russian news media early Tuesday said Mr. Lavrov, who was greeted by cheering Syrians, told the president that “necessary reforms must be implemented in order to address the legitimate demands of the people striving for a better life.” He called for “dialogue among the political forces” while acknowledging the “readiness of the president of Syria for this work.”

Russia has to pressure President Assad to make that happen, beginning with a cease-fire.