He also noted they wanted a "frank investigation" into the Syrian chemical attack, believed to be launched by President Bashar al-Assad. "Frankly, Putin is backing a person that's truly an evil person".
The meeting could be colored by the fact that Trump has previously called the alliance "obsolete", but aides said the discussion would focus on ways to goad North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member countries to increase military spending and focus more attention on stopping terror attacks.
Prior to Tillerson's arrival, hopes in Moscow had already dimmed that Trump would make good on his pledge to improve ties with Russian Federation, as relations with the Kremlin have become politically toxic on the back of claims that Putin conspired to get Trump elected.
"Let us look at that", Lavrov said, via translation. Tillerson conceded the two world powers had "sharp differences" that have obstructed cooperation but voiced optimism that their talks could narrow those differences.
The text also condemned the reported use of chemical weapons and demanded a speedy investigation.
"It reminds me of the events in 2003 when US envoys to the Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq", Putin said.
On Tuesday he said that "fake chemical attacks" were being prepared in other regions, created to be blamed on the Syrian government.
He said: "Where is the proof that Syrian troops used chemical weapons?"
Paul Manafort registering with U.S. as foreign agent
But they have previously noted that they have no way of knowing whether Manafort received the money listed next to his name. Manafort has denied any impropriety and has volunteered to be interviewed by the House intelligence committee.
His comments follow a frosty meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov and a later meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The two did outline some areas of agreement Wednesday. Tillerson struck a pretty pragmatic tone, talking about the need to work through the many differences the USA has with Russian Federation.
Before flying to Moscow, Tillerson issued an ultimatum to Putin: Either side with the US and likeminded countries, or with Assad, Iran and the militant group Hezbollah. Both also agreed on the need to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS). Still, the question of removing Assad from power remained a sticking point. They said that they were confident that terrorists do not have access to sarin. "Russia, as their closest ally in the conflict, perhaps has the best means of helping Assad recognize this reality".
Russian Federation accuses Washington of faking the Assad responsibility in last week's chemical attack as a pretext, the way US officials trumped up a case for going to war in Iraq to destroy nonexistent weapons of mass destruction in 2003.
Mr Lavrov said that the US had provided no evidence that it interfered in the 2016 election despite repeated requests.
"Those steps are under way", he said. "With the acts that [Assad] has taken, it would seem that there would be no role for him to govern the Syrian people". Russian Federation has condemned a United States air strike on a Syrian air base which came in response to the attack. Lavrov, however, pointed to the downside of removing a foreign leader.
But Mr Lavrov said that "ousting a particular personality is not on our agenda". "I don't remember any positive examples of how a dictator was overthrown and everything was just fine afterwards".
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