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Trumps calls on Russia to stop arms race

The US president also said that relations between the United States and Russia are currently worse than they have ever been

© AP Photo/Evan Vucci

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. Relations between the United States and Russia are currently worse than they have ever been, US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, adding that the current arms race needs to be stopped.

"Our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War. There is no reason for this. Russia needs us to help with their economy, something that would be very easy to do, and we need all nations to work together. Stop the arms race?" the tweet reads.

Our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War. There is no reason for this. Russia needs us to help with their economy, something that would be very easy to do, and we need all nations to work together. Stop the arms race?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 11 April 2018

Since taking office, Trump has been emphasizing the need to improve relations with Moscow but bilateral relations have been deteriorating in the past year. Washington several times imposed sanctions on Russia and expelled Russian diplomats twice. Besides, Russia’s consulates in San Francisco and Seattle were closed.

The US president said earlier on Wednesday that Russia should get ready to shoot down missiles fired at Syria.

Washington’s threats

On Monday, US President Donald Trump said that Washington had "a lot of options militarily" on Syria, adding that a decision would be made in 24 to 48 hours.

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Trump says Russia should get ready to shoot down missiles fired at Syria

Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov told Euronews on Tuesday that Moscow had warned Washington about serious consequences that an attack on Syria could have in case it affected Russians. "Russia has warned US representatives, publicly as well as through proper channels, over the grave consequences that could arise if these strikes happen and whether deliberately or otherwise Russian citizens are hurt," he said.

Alleged chemical weapons attack

A number of non-government organizations, including the White Helmets, allege that a chemical weapons attack took place in Eastern Ghouta’s town of Douma on April 7. In their April 8 statement, the White Helmets claimed that the attack had particularly involved chlorine-filled bombs. According to the White Helmets, dozens died in the attack, while 500 people "reached the medical centers with symptoms of exposure to chemicals."

Read also

The Russian Foreign Ministry slammed the statement as a bogus story, while Russia’s Defense Ministry pointed out that the White Helmets were not a reliable source of information as they were known for spreading fabricated news.

On April 9, officers from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria visited Douma but did not find any traces of chemical weapons.

Russian officials many times warned about impending provocations and staged chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

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