Flynn was invited to participate in Syria peace talks, sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran. Russia’s ambassador to the United States had personally invited President Trump’s national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, to the meeting, scheduled to begin Monday in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. Turkey and the United States have both backed the rebels, although Trump has questioned the CIA program to arm and train them. When the Obama administration declined to provide air support for a Turkish military operation against the Islamic State inside Syria, Turkey turned to Russia. Attendance at the Astana talks would put the Trump administration at the same table as Iran, as well as Russia.

Source: Washington Post January 21, 2017 18:48 UTC