Tillerson meets with Putin amid deepening tensions over U.S. missile strikes in Syria
Source: The Washington Post
By Carol Morello and David Filipov April 12 at 11:46 AM
MOSCOW Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held his first directs talks with Russias president on Wednesday amid deepening tensions after U.S. missile strikes in Syria and Washingtons demands that Moscow abandon support for its main Middle East ally.
The meeting between Tillerson and Russian President Vladimir Putin came after hours of tense exchanges with both sides staking out positions that were deeply at odds, including Russia making it clear it was unwilling to roll back its strategic alliance with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
But the talks, confirmed by U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Maria Olson, are unlikely to bring any significant breakthroughs after last weeks missile strike plunged U.S.-Russian relations to one of the lowest points since the Cold War.
I will be frank, we have a lot of questions regarding very ambiguous and contradictory ideas on the international agenda in Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after shaking hands with Tillerson and sitting down at a conference table to welcome him to Moscow, a rite typically marked by polite pleasantries. And Id like to say, apart from words, we saw some very alarming actions regarding the unlawful attack in Syria.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/tillerson-faces-tough-line-from-russia-over-support-for-syrian-leader-assad/2017/04/12/918985f2-1f19-11e7-a0a7-8b2a45e3dc84_story.html?utm_term=.440cb4dc7dd6&wpisrc=al_alert-COMBO-world%252Bnation&wpmk=1
calimary
(80,693 posts)Might also be the Russians.
Their puppet isn't keeping things nice 'n' quiet and disinfected for them, is he?
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,083 posts)I don't think there's any real remorse on the Russian's part.
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)ultimately, he is an idiot!
ExxonMobil and Russian oil remain on track - Tillerson and Putin just have to figure how to get THAT back on track quietly.
keithbvadu2
(36,362 posts)JTFrog
(14,274 posts)This has been about the oil from the get go.