Hours after a new round of talks began in Geneva about a political solution to the Syrian crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he had ordered the beginning of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria.

The news was reported by most mainstream media as a general pull-out of the Russian military from Syria, but that is not, in fact, the case. A close look at Putin’s announcement reveals that the withdrawal of Russian troops will be a limited one.

During a meeting with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Putin told his defense and foreign minister, “Our bases — the naval base in Tartus and the airbase at the Khmeimim airfield — will operate in a routine mode. They are to be safely protected from the land, from the sea, and from air.”

“Those Russian servicemen who will stay in Syria will be engaged in monitoring the ceasefire regime,” the Russian leader added according to the Russian news agency Tass.

So, although Putin emphasized that most of his goals in Syria have been achieved, the Russian air force supported by the Navy will remain active in Syria.

They will monitor the fragile ceasefire and will continue the air campaign against the Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, who were excluded from the cease-fire agreement that came into effect at the end of February.

Today the Pentagon acknowledged that Russia has indeed begun launching airstrikes against the Islamic State. The U.S. has accused Russia of lying about its intentions in Syria and has long said that Russia’s air force limited itself to air strikes on anti-Assad forces.

The partly Russian withdrawal from Syria was coordinated with President Assad and his military aides, Tass reported.

“Everything voiced at the meeting [of Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu was told our Syrian colleagues and coordinated with President (Bashar) Assad,” Dimitry Peskov, the spokesman of the Kremlin, said.

Putin portrayed the move as a good-will measure that aims to stimulate the parties involved in the Geneva-talks to come to a peaceful solution to the five-year-old Syrian war.

“I hope today’s decision will be a good signal for all conflicting parties. I hope it will sizable increase trust of all participants in the process. I ask the Russian Foreign Ministry to intensify Russia’s participation in organizing the peace process to solve the Syrian problem,” Putin said during the meeting with Lavrov and Shoigu.

In reality, Putin’s decision is connected to the fact that Assad’s survival has been assured and the realization that a re-conquest of the entirety of Syria is beyond the abilities of the Syrian army and its allies. Iran has already announced it will withdraw the al-Quds Brigade of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps from Syria, another sign that Russia and Iran realize that Syria as we knew it has ceased to exist.

Apparently Assad was told that his dream of reunification of Syria is a utopia and that he has to accept that his rule will be limited to Damascus and territories west, north and south of the capital. This enclave is the most important part of Syria since all the major cities are located in it and it contains Syria’s only gateway to the Mediterranean Sea. The majority of the Syrian population lives in the areas under Assad’s control.

Another reason for Putin’s surprise announcement is the fact that the Russian President is wary of a long campaign in Syria because of the high costs. The low oil prices and the devaluation of the ruble make it doubtful the Russian Federation could sustain the expenditure of such a campaign.

The third factor playing a role in Putin’s decision is that Russia wants to see the lifting of the sanctions that are related to the Ukraine intervention.

However, all this does not mean that Russia will leave Syria anytime soon. Putin has ambitions beyond the borders of Europe and will remain a formidable player in the emerging new Middle East. He will order a return of his troops to Syria whenever he deems that necessary.