Originally Posted by
Broadsword***
Assad is winning and he has the (apparently unconditional) backing of China and Russia.
A UN ceasefire and separation of forces requires a UN Resolution. If that is passed then the backing by China and Russia would cease.
Pushing for a cease fire is not dependent on China and Russia acquiescing, that only happens once voted in the UN. While Russia will stand up to the USA, indeed it is probably only supporting Assad because the USA is supporting the rebels, it would cease to do so if international opinion supported a ceasefire resolution.
If a resolution is passed it also means that no country can continue to back one side of the other.
The UN problem is then how to insert peace-keeping forces without first inserting peace-making forces. However it did work in Serbia.