Fatima Watch: Putin Says U.S and Russia relations worse since Trump took office

Fatima Watch: Putin Says U.S and Russia relations worse since Trump took office 

SOURCE

Levels of trust between Moscow and Washington have deteriorated since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview broadcast on Wednesday.
Asked about relations since Trump became president, Putin said, according to a transcript of the interview released by the Kremlin: "One could say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level, has not improved, but rather has deteriorated."

  Asked about accusations that Syria's government launched a chemical weapons attack in Idlib province, Putin said that Damascus had given up its chemical weapons stocks.
He said he believed there were two main explanations for the incident in Idlib province: that Syrian government air strikes had hit rebel chemical weapons stocks, releasing poisonous gas, or that the incident was a set-up designed to discredit the Syrian government.

WAR DRUMS: Elite US Navy Seals training in South Korea to Take out Kim Jong-un’

The crack US Navy Seal team that killed Osama bin Laden is reportedly training to take out North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-un. Seal Team Six is taking part in secretive drills alongside other elite US forces in South Korea amid rising tensions with Pyongyang, news.com.au reports. US military officials confirmed “ground, air, naval and special operations”

are taking part in “several joint and combined field training operations” which involve up to 17,000 troops. And South Korean newspaper JoongAng Daily has claimed the teams would take part in a drill to simulate the removal of Kim Jong-un. But US officials denied the elite troopers are preparing a raid to take out Kim. READ MORE

WAR DRUMS: North Korea warns of nuclear strike if provoked as U.S. warships approach

North Korean state media on Tuesday warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of U.S. aggression as a U.S. Navy strike group steamed towards the western Pacific. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has urged China to do more to rein in its impoverished neighbour, said in a Tweet North Korea was “looking for trouble” and the United States would “solve the problem” with or without China’s help. Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the
United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test. North Korea’s official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States. “Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland,” it said. MORE

WAR DRUMS: Secretary of State Warns “Reign of the Assad family is coming to an end”

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow on Tuesday to face what might be his toughest test yet as chief diplomat as he seeks to convince Russia to back away from its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The visit, Mr. Tillerson’s first as secretary of State, comes as hopes for a broader U.S.-Russian rapprochement have dimmed and as ties between the two former Cold War foes have further soured over
President Donald Trump’s decision last week to strike a Syrian air base in response to Mr. Assad’s suspected deadly chemical weapons attack on April 4. He arrived Tuesday following a two-day stop in Italy for a meeting with top officials Group of 7 member countries—the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan. Before leaving Italy, he issued a new U.S. demand for the eventual removal of Mr. Assad, who is blamed by the U.S. and West for the long-running civil war in Syria. READ MORE

WAR DRUMS: White House Accuses Russia of Cover-Up in Syria Chemical Attack

The White House accused the Russian government on Tuesday of engaging in a cover-up of the chemical weapons attack last week by Syrian forces that prompted American missile strikes, saying that United States intelligence and numerous contemporaneous reports confirmed that the Syrians used sarin gas on their own people. In a declassified four-page report that details United States intelligence on the chemical weapons attack and contains a point-by-point rebuttal of Moscow’s
claims, the White House asserted that the Syrian and Russian governments had sought to confuse the world community about the assault through disinformation and “false narratives.” The strongly worded document calls for international condemnation of Syria’s use of chemical weapons and harshly criticizes Russia for “shielding” an ally that has used weapons of mass destruction. READ MORE