In the latest veto, Russian Federation blocked a draft resolution backed by the United States, France and Britain to denounce the attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun and tell Assad's government to provide access for investigators and information such as flight plans. The measure also would have approved an investigation into the chemical weapons attack. Various analysts have suggested that Russian Federation could be swayed in the direction of such a solution, although they have tended to conclude that the same is not true of Iran, which sees its interests being safeguarded only by the complete military defeat of Assad's enemies.
The only silver lining, Fox News notes, would be that China voted for abstention because it is a "win" for US diplomacy.
Wednesday's meeting occurred amid the worst U.S. -Russia diplomatic relations since the end of the Cold War, more than a quarter-century ago.
"It can be said that the level of trust at the working level, especially at the military level, has not become better but most likely has degraded", Putin said in an interview broadcast Wednesday by state television channel Mir.
"The Prime Minister and the president agreed that a window of opportunity now exists in which to persuade Russian Federation that its alliance with Assad is no longer in its strategic interest", Mays spokesperson said in London.
Putin also said that confidence in an improvement in U.S.
As CNN notes, US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already indicated that the legislative body is exploring the imposition of new sanctions against both Russian Federation and Iran over their responsibility for the Idlib chemical attack.
Lavrov criticized the US for airstrikes on the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, warned that similar action was unacceptable to Russian Federation, and chided the Trump administration for an inconsistent foreign policy and vacant positions at the State Department.
Beyond Syria, Russia's alleged meddling in the US presidential election also hovered over what was the first face-to-face encounter between Putin and any Trump administration Cabinet member.
The presidents of the United States and Russian Federation have both presented souring views of the relationship between their two countries, exchanging sharp words as Moscow extended an icy welcome to the United States' top diplomat in a face-off over Syria.
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The meeting marked the first time Putin has met with a top Trump administration official, notes the Times, and came despite reports that relations had become tense between Russian Federation and the United States following the Syrian airstrikes.
Before Thursday's attack, the United States took the standard measures to prevent an inadvertent strike on Russia's military, another Assad ally. "But we're going to see what happens", Trump told the news conference.
Unlike he has done with previous secretaries of state, Putin didn't keep Tillerson waiting for hours on Wednesday.
Lavrov called the meeting "substantial and very frank".
The Moscow news conference came after Putin met Tillerson for the first time since Trump took office. But as has been widely reported in recent months, many Western institutions are holding back their plans to re-engage with Iran until it is clear what further action the U.S. might take as President Trump pursues a more assertive foreign policy.
Last week, President Donald Trump joined millions of Americans in being horrified and angered over the Syrian regime's use of nerve gas against civilians in a village.
"Frankly, Putin is backing a person that's truly an evil person", Trump aid in the Fox Business Network interview, referring to Assad.
Of Assad, Trump added: "This is an animal". As it is Moscow decided after President Vladimir Putin's meeting with his security council to scrap the October 2015 agreement with Washington on avoidance of conflict in Syrian airspace between the two powers. I think it's very bad for mankind.
"Where is the proof that Syrian troops used chemical weapons?"
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