Phone Conversation Between the Foreign Ministers of Russia and the USA on Syrian Developments

On Saturday, the foreign ministers of the USA and Russia held a phone conversation for the first time since the American airstrike on Syrian soil. In this conversation, Sergey Lavrov accused the USA of 'pouring water on the mill of extremists' with this action. According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry reported by Reuters, Mr. Lavrov warned Rex Tillerson, his American counterpart, that 'attacking a country engaged in the fight against terrorism only pours water on the mill of extremists and creates regional and global security threats.' He also reiterated his country's position that the Syrian government was not involved in the chemical attack in Idlib, stating that this accusation 'lacks logic and reality.' Mr. Tillerson is scheduled to visit Moscow for two days next Tuesday, and Reuters reported that both sides agreed to continue discussions about Syria during this visit. Earlier, Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that Moscow expects to receive 'explanations' regarding the recent American missile attack on the Shayrat airbase in Syria during Rex Tillerson's upcoming visit. The early morning attack by the USA on Friday was met with a strong reaction from Moscow, and just hours later, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian presidential office, warned that his country considers this action 'an aggression against an independent country' that will damage future US-Russia relations. The USA, through its Secretary of State and its permanent representative to the United Nations, has blamed Russia for failing to uphold its commitments regarding the restraint of the Assad government and its use of chemical weapons, with Rex Tillerson explicitly stating that either Russia 'colluded with Syria or has been incompetent in this regard.' However, it was not expected that the verbal tensions between the USA and Russia over the recent missile attack would lead to the cancellation or postponement of Mr. Tillerson's trip to Moscow. In contrast to Mr. Tillerson, Boris Johnson, the British Foreign Secretary, who was scheduled to travel to Moscow on Monday, announced on Saturday that he was canceling his trip due to the developments in Syria. The British Foreign Secretary, who has strongly condemned last week's chemical attack in Syria and welcomed the early morning attack by the USA, noted that recent developments have fundamentally changed the situation. Mr. Johnson also condemned Russia's continued defense of the Assad government despite last week's chemical attack, stating that Rex Tillerson would be able to convey a 'clear and coordinated message' to Moscow. In this context, discussions between Iranian and Russian officials regarding the American missile attack on Syrian territory have taken place. Nikki Haley: The USA is ready for further actions against the Syrian government. Tillerson: The USA's action was a warning to governments about crossing red lines. Russia has called for a review of the USA's attack on Syrian territory in the Security Council. 'Putin's criticism' of Israel's position regarding Assad's involvement in the chemical attack in Syria.