MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Washington continues to play the role of "a geopolitical puppet master" with regard to the developments in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.

"I think it’s no exaggeration to say that they [the Americans] have not only taken on the role of a geopolitical puppet master but have been playing it in the current developments," he noted, when asked about the United States’ role in the Syrian events.

According to the Russian diplomat, Washington has a long history of interfering in the affairs of many Middle East nations, something that has led to tragic consequences time and again. "After the Americans come in, they leave ruins in their wake, and many of those ruins have not been restored to this day," Ryabkov pointed out. "The institutions they tried to establish to replace what they destroyed have failed to function effectively. For many residents, there is no stability, and as for prosperity, forget about it," he added.

"I would hate to think that the future has something like this in store for Syria due to their involvement, but what has happened so far causes great concern," the Russian deputy foreign minister remarked.