US Secretary of State will not meet Putin: Spokesman

MOSCOW, Russia (Kurdistan24) – The Kremlin spokesperson on Monday revealed the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would not meet with President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Moscow later this week.

Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tillerson would meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov instead.

The meeting is presumably regarding the US’ recent military intervention in Syria after President Donald Trump ordered an attack on an airbase in the country.

On Thursday night, 60 US cruise missiles targeted the Shayrat military base in Syria where President Bashar al-Assad’s regime had reportedly launched chemical attacks on Idlib days before.

The Kremlin spokesman said the action demonstrated Washington’s “unwillingness” to cooperate on Syria.

Additionally, Peskov stated new calls for the Syrian leader to leave his post would not help resolve the crisis in the country now entering its seventh year.

“There is no alternative [to peace talks in Geneva and Astana],” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Tillerson affirmed the US would hold accountable anyone who commits crimes against humanity, days after the military raid on Syria.

“We rededicate ourselves to holding account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world,” Tillerson had explained, according to Reuters.

On the other hand, European ministers said they were anticipating whether the US was committed to overthrowing Assad, who Russia backs.

At a weekend G7 gathering in Italy, Tillerson said the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) remained a priority for the US.

However, the US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley stated a “regime change” in Syria was also on the agenda for President Trump.