Russia made it clear it would veto any proposal that left loopholes for regime change and intervention as in Libya. Not so much because it likes Assad as because it is worried about the precedent being enshrined by useage and later used against some other leader in a nation where it has far more skin in the game. And, since the primary and laudable purpose of the UN is not R2P humanitarianism or human rights but to prevent a war between the major powers, Russia will get most of its way.

... UNSC was "hit hard" by Libya — members "ignored resolutions they were charged with implementing" http://rt.com/news/libya-syria-secutiry-council-217/

It's a flipped Iraq, one where the Sunnis are in the majority but the Shias are in power. Libya was at best a tribal civil war in theory. But wasn't Libya pretty much a quest for oil. And isn't that the missing ingredient in Syria. No oil.

Still I agree that a climb down is needed by the Baaths. Some kind of true power sharing, not a regime changeover. Something closer to Lebanon. The west is not interested in that and cynicism aside it's something Russia understands while the western media doesn't and/or ignores.

That's my current take on it all.