Vladimir Putin just accused the United States of planning to fake chemical weapons attacks in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a joint news conference with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Sergio Mattarella is in Russia on an official visit. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Last week, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk missiles into a Syrian airbase that has been used by Russian forces, and since then, the air between the Kremlin and the United States government has become even more tense. President Trump has not tweeted about Vladimir Putin since the attack and has been uncharacteristically silent about it, even when Russia suspended their communications channel with the United States.

Videos by Rare

RELATED: According to one of the First Kids, Ivanka Trump helped influence the president’s airstrike in Syria

In a statement, Kremlin Press Secretary Dimitry Peskov said, “President Putin regards the American attacks on Syria as aggression against a sovereign state in violation of the norms of international law, and under a far-fetched pretext […] the strike caused significant damage to US-Russian ties, which are already in a deplorable state.”

And on Tuesday morning, Putin doubled down on his rhetoric. Reuters reported that the leader stated, “Russia had information that the United States was planning to launch new missile strikes on Syria, and that there were plans to fake chemical weapons attacks there.” When a journalist asked if the Kremlin was expecting more strikes similar to those carried out on Thursday, Putin responded, “We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared.” He also continued with the narrative that United States may be behind the use of chemical weapons, saying, “They are planning to again plant some substance [in the southern Damascus suburbs] and accuse the Syrian authorities of using chemical weapons.”

RELATED: A U.S. official claims to have evidence that Russia knew about the chemical weapons attack in Syria before it happened

On Monday, the Associated Press reported that U.S. officials have “made a preliminary conclusion that Russia knew in advance of Syria’s chemical weapons attack.” However, they have no proof that the Kremlin was directly involved in the attack. The official who spoke to AP noted that a Russian surveillance drone was flying over a hospital where victims of the attack were seeking treatment. Soon after, a jet bombed the hospital; while the jet was made in Russia, Syrian air forces also operate Russian-made jets, and thus the United States is still unsure whether Russia or Syria was responsible.

What do you think?

Apple iPhone smartphone

11 ways to lower your cellphone bill

Michael Bublé’s wife Luisana Lopilato speaks out for the first time since their 3-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer