As he stepped into a long session with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Tillerson said he was trying to confront "areas of sharp difference" with Moscow. Russia and the United States disagree over Assad's fate. It is customary for U.S. secretaries of State to meet with Putin when in Moscow, and Tillerson and Putin are friends from the American's days as chief executive of ExxonMobil. Putin bestowed one of Russia's highest honors, the Order of Friendship, on Tillerson just four years ago. Putin, in the television interview, was no kinder to the United States' NATO allies for their unanimous support for the U.S. retaliatory strike against Assad's forces.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 12, 2017 12:40 UTC