Lavrov, Tillerson discuss situation in Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has discussed with his American counterpart Rex Tillerson the situation in Syria, following Washington’s missile strike against a Syrian airbase.

According to the Russian foreign ministry, Lavrov warned Tillerson during the conversation on Saturday that Washington played into the hands of terrorists by carrying out Friday night’s attack on Syria’s al-Shayrat airbase.

“An attack on a country whose government fights terrorism, only plays into the hands of extremists and creates additional threats to regional and global security,” the statement said.

Lavrov told Tillerson that accusing the Syrian military of using chemical weapons did not correspond to reality, adding that Washington’s claims in this regard were “inaccurate and inconclusive.”

The statement further noted that Lavrov and his American counterpart agreed to continue discussions on Syria in a meeting. Tillerson was expected to hold meetings with Lavrov and other Russian officials in Moscow next week.

The Kremlin had warned the White House in an earlier statement that the attack “has dealt a serious blow to Russia-US relations, which are already in a poor state.”

SS