The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has arrived in Moscow for a very important meeting with his counterpart Sergei Lavrov. This will be the first face to face meeting between the two topmost officials in the US and Russia after last week’s missile attacks on Syria in response to chemical attacks by the United States. The strike triggered a fury among Assad allies like Russia and Iran. However, President Trump has given some clarity that he doesn’t intend to enter the Syrian civil war, which suggests that last week’s attack could be a one-off event.

Tillerson will have a very difficult task in pursuing Moscow after last week’s attack to abandon Assad for good. He might have to use not only his negotiating skills but will have to rely on his personal relationship with President Putin, from whom he received Russian order of friendship in 2013, the highest honor that could be bestowed upon a foreigner. Both sides have hardened their stance before the meeting. Mr. Tillerson said, "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. We want to create a future for Syria that is stable and secure…….Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role, or Russia can maintain its alliance with Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah, which will not serve its long-term interests…..But only Russia can answer that question."

While Russian foreign ministry said that the meeting would hopefully be productive but the ministry maintained its stance that the US attack last week violated international law. Secretary Lavrov is also expected to push for an investigation into the matter.