Syria Conflict Update: Peace, Brokered By Russia, Now In View

Rhetoric around Syria and military strikes from a United States-led coalition took a turn for the dovish when a gaffe by Secretary of State John Kerry opened the door for diplomatic negotiations on Syrian disarmament.

Last week, when pressed on how Syria could avoid military conflict with the United States, Kerry told reporters that the country could allow inspectors in and disarm all chemical weapons. When the Russian foreign ministry began to treat that as a starting point proposal for diffusing the tension between the two nations, Kerry attempted to walk back the statement as rhetorical.

President Barack Obama, however, has embraced the diplomatic idea, and by midday Tuesday afternoon the Associated Press and the Huffington Post reported that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime will declare their weapons arsenal and sign the chemical weapons ban they had - until now - resisted.

The United States will, in turn, work through the United Nations on a Syrian arms proposal, the New York Times reports. That proposal, initially put forth by the Russian foreign ministry, is being debated on several points, including a binding U.N. resolution (which Russia opposes) and the promise of taking military action off the table (which the United States opposes).

A successful diplomacy measure that averts strikes would be a huge win for Obama, Assad, and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Barnard College Professor Kimberly Marten told Al-Jazeera America. For Putin, the opportunity to play peacemaker in the world helps him shirk the warlord reputation that's plagued his administration in recent years. For Obama, a move away from military strikes would allow him to save face while avoid a conflict that has garnered little public or congressional support. For Assad, destocking chemical weapons could be a preferable choice instead of risking military engagement with a military superpower.

Obama is scheduled to address the nation at 9 p.m. EST Tuesday.