In the hours after American missiles rained down on its ally in Syria, Russia made clear it had no plans to respond in kind. At the U.N. Security Council, Russia called on the world to condemn the United States. The United States, with President Trump’s long-term strategy for the country still uncertain, is left as a less influential player. Russia’s response Saturday underscored Putin’s effort to use Syria to help portray himself as a guarantor of global stability despite the torrent of Western criticism. Not for decades, they said, had the United States and Russia come so close to a direct military clash.

Source: Washington Post April 14, 2018 09:45 UTC