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Conflict in Syria

Moscow favors serious approaches rather than 'Twitter diplomacy' — Kremlin

The Kremlin comments on US President Donald Trump’s tweet that Russia should be ready to shoot down missiles fired at Syria

© Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. Moscow is not supporting the so-called ‘Twitter-diplomacy’ and counts on a serious approach in international relations, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said commenting on US President Donald Trump’s most recent Tweeter statements about Russia.

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"We are not participating in ‘Twitter-diplomacy’," Peskov told journalists. "We are supporting serious approaches."

"We still firmly believe that it is important to abstain from taking steps, which may be detrimental to the already fragile situation (in Syria)," he said.

The invented charges over the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria cannot serve as a pretext for the use of force towards that country, he added.

"We remain certain that the claims chemical weapons have been allegedly used in (Syria’s) Douma are far-fetched and cannot excuse any use of force," Peskov said.

US President Trump wrote on his Twitter account earlier in the day that Russia should be prepared for shooting down missiles launched against Syria and also called on Moscow not to "be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!"

In his following Tween later in the day, Trump stated that "Our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War," finishing it with a question "Stop the arms race?"

Tensions mounted between Moscow and Washington amid the alleged April 7 chemical weapons attack in Syria’s Douma, in Eastern Ghouta. The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected the report as fake news, and representatives of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Parties visited Douma on April 9, but did not find any traces of chemical weapons there.

Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 11 April 2018

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Foreign policy Syrian conflict

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