Russian calls U.S. attack on Syria unlawful
MOSCOW — Russia’s top diplomat accused the United States today of carrying out an unlawful attack against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces as he opened a meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
Giving Tillerson a chilly reception, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia was trying to understand the “real intentions” of the Trump administration. He said Moscow has lots of questions about the “very ambiguous” and “contradictory” ideas emanating from Washington.
“We have seen very alarming actions recently with an unlawful attack against Syria,” Lavrov said, referring to the cruise missiles President Donald Trump ordered to punish Assad for using chemical weapons. “We consider it of utmost importance to prevent the risks of replay of similar action in the future.”
It was an ominous start to Tillerson’s visit — the first to Russia by a Trump Cabinet official. Tillerson conceded the two world powers had “sharp differences” that have obstructed cooperation but voiced optimism that their talks could narrow those differences.
“We both have agreed our lines of communication shall always remain open,” Tillerson said.
Trump, meanwhile, told Fox Business News that the U.S. had no plans to become more deeply involved in Syria and only did so because of last week’s deadly chemical weapons attack that killed dozens. Turkey has said tests showed sarin gas was used.
“Are we going to get involved with Syria? No,” Trump said in the interview, which aired today in the U.S. “But if I see them using gas ... we have to do something.”
The palpable tension hanging over Tillerson’s trip spoke to a widening chasm between the former Cold War foes.
Only weeks ago, it appeared that Trump, who lavishly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout the campaign, was poised for a potentially historic rapprochement with Russia. But any expectations of an easy rapport have crashed into reality as the two countries trade escalating accusations over what happened last week in rebel-held territory in northern Syria.
It was unclear whether Putin, who once gave Tillerson an “Order of Friendship” award, would grant the visiting American an audience.
