directly to day but it's safe to say many were thinking it turkey has put nato in one of the most awkward and volatile situations in the alliances history but turkey's strategic value remains more important and that means native secretary-general yeah. has to handle on her own with the nuance of a diplomat and not the heavy hand of a disciplinary and what about russia its influence in syria is no longer challenged by the u.s. russian troops will soon patrol syria's northern border along with turkish forces putin hands exactly what he wants today nato welcomed an idea from germany calling for russia and turkey to be part of an internationally controlled safe zone in northern syria moscow quickly dismissed that idea saying there's simply no neat. a russian patrol winds its way through the syrian town of commission on the border