Putin Demands An Investigation of Syrian Gas Attack


Chemical weapons attacks can and must be condemned no matter who conducts them or for what reason. Their use is rightly considered a war crime. The Syrian government stands accused by the U.S. of using them, a claim both Syria and Russia deny. With these attacks being the reason Washington has given to justify its attack on a Syrian airbase, the current conflict comes as no surprise.

President Putin wants a U.N. investigation of the gas attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will reportedly press the United Nations to officially investigate last week’s chemical attack in Syria, claiming, without evidence, that there are plans to fake the use of chemical weapons.

Putin’s position is that the U.S. plans to launch more attacks on Syria in an attempt to topple President Assad. Thus, he hopes to expose the U.S. as the real perpetrator of the chemical weapons attack.

“We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared … in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syria authorities of using [chemical weapons],” he said in Moscow.

The U.S. is pushing back and Secretary Tillerson is carrying a message to Moscow that Mr. Putin is unlikely to appreciate.

Tillerson earlier Tuesday said Russia must choose between its support of Syrian President Bashar Assad and cooperating with the U.S. to bring peace to a nation ravaged by a yearslong civil war.

“We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people,” Tillerson told reporters. “Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role.

“Or Russia can maintain its alliance with this group, which we believe is not going to serve Russia’s interests longer term.”

It is difficult to predict how this will turn out, especially with Russia being such a staunch backer of President Assad and the Syrian government. Can Putin walk back that support and will he? Negotiating the crisis with Syria will be just one of many crises the Trump administration will need to address.

Source: The Hill



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