[Nic Robertson, Cnn International Diplomatic Editor:] That's the one that the U.N. Security Council resolution 2254 which said that there should be a transition from power from President Assad. They want to see the White House get behind that. But they are concerned because they feel that Trump is mercurial and don't have at the moment a high degree of certainty of where he's going next on this.
[Brianna Keilar, Cnn Anchor:] The U.S., Nic, is saying that Russia is complicit in this chemical weapons attack. From a more global perspective how are countries including American allies now viewing Russia after this?
[Robertson:] You know, I think there would be a certain element of satisfaction or relief, if you will, to a degree, because, again, the concerns run deep about where the White House goes moving forward. But if you remember, when President Trump came to office you had the British Prime Minister Theresa May when she was in Washington in late January saying, yes, by all means deal with Putin, but check and verify. This is a man not to be trusted and this has been the view from the European allies. So, when they hear Nikki Haley at the U.N. essentially dismissing the anger that's been portrayed by the Russian ambassador to the United Nations and overall, you know, President Trump, Rex Tillerson, secretary of state, essentially dismissing Russia's claims of this gas attack hasn't been properly investigated, you know, Syria couldn't possibly be involved in it, just a completely negate that and wash that away with these airstrikes which says, we're not listening to you, essentially, you're wrong you're lying. That is giving a certain amount of relief to the allies in Europe who are very concerned about where Trump was going over relations with Putin and therefore the strong European resolve over Russia's actions, annexing Crimea, getting involved in Ukraine, the worries about what they see is doing inside Syria, or after all, Europe is getting overrun, wash across by refugees coming out of Syria. So, they are relieved in part. But, again, we have to come back to that point: what happens next? Everyone is saying it and that's the view from here as well.
[Keilar:] Nic Robertson in London thank you so much. Victor?
[Victor Blackwell, Cnn Anchor:] All right. Now to this Russian warship that's on the move to a Russian naval space in Syria a military source tells Russian state news the ship is armed with cruise missiles and it's entering the same waters where U.S. ships launched that volley of Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airbase. Is it a Russian show of strength or a sign of something worse? All right. Let's talk now with Jack Barsky. He's a former KGB spy and author of a book "Deep Undercover." Jack, good morning to you.
[Jack Barsky, Former Kgb Agent:] Good morning.
[Blackwell:] So, let's start here with the Admiral Grigorovich that's moving into the Mediterranean. We know that cruise ship missiles are on board. We know that Russian forces are helping to beef up the Syrian air resources. What do you make of this? Is this just a show of force or does this suggest that something else is coming?
[Barsky:] Of course, it's a show of force. Syria has been an ally since I can remember, in my late teens and early 20s has been an ally of the Soviet Union, who's one of the good guys, so to speak. And Assad's there was Assad's father and now Putin is strongly allied with the son. So, the concern really is that we're not facing just Syria, and we're not dealing with just the Middle East, but we're not sitting across the table with what is currently our main adversaries which is Russia but sort of getting close to being across a firing line and that, I am deeply concerned with.
[Blackwell:] I understand you told one of our producers that through Russians eyes, this strike appears to be emotional. Talk about that, if you would.
[Barsky:] Well, again, I just heard a few commentators say the same thing. It's because Donald Trump during the campaign pretty much gave a completely different view of the world and I'm still trying to figure out what is going to be the Trump doctrine, and he's sort of changed on a dime and he said this himself. He was emotionally impacted by what he saw. That's not how we do policy. That's not how we you know, deal with the world as a whole. I'm concerned with that as well.
[Blackwell:] Yes, and as we look ahead to this meeting, we know that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is headed to Moscow next week mean toing will be, I believe on Wednesday. It's difficult for us because of some inconsistencies and contradictions determine how the U.S. will approach this meeting. But from your perspective, how do you expect the Kremlin will approach this meeting with Secretary Tillerson?
[Barsky:] I hope the Kremlin will continue to probe. Is there some consistency to our policy? Is there is there really a line in the sand that they can't cross? Ultimately, they are not suicidal. You know, neither would the Soviet leaders in the past. They want to survive, but they also want to win the game. So, we need to be have a very consistent approach that isn't just short term, but long term and I'm hoping that Mr. Tillerson is going to pursue that kind of line of thinking.
[Blackwell:] So, when you say that there is some they want to win the game and not suicidal, you believe there is some diplomatic option on the table, that there is some room for, for some deal making?
[Barsky:] There should be. And I can only remember and this is pretty much still very strong in my memory when Ronald Reagan stepped on the scene, the Soviet leaders and that trickled down through the ranks of the KGB were scared out of their mind, and they really respected Ronald Reagan's strong approach to the relationship with the Soviet Union. But, that did not preclude sitting down and having a conversation as adversaries rather than enemies.
[Blackwell:] Very quickly before we go, I want to you listen to Senator Marco Rubio and what he said about Russia and this chemical attack. Let's watch.
[Sen. Marco Rubio , Florida:] The Russians are complicit in these war crimes. They were at that facility and had personnel stationed at that airbase. They had to have known there was sarin gas being loaded on to those planes.
[Blackwell:] With your knowledge of Putin, do you think that's plausible the Russians knew that this was going to happen or was potentially possible?
[Barsky:] It's possible, but the Russians, if they were complicit, it was with a wink and a nod. It was with having the ability to use plausible deniability. What the senator there has said is speculation. And I wish we should get off of the, you know, speculation and deal with facts. I don't think the facts will ever come out on this one.
[Blackwell:] All right. Jack Barsky, thanks so much for being with us.
[Barsky:] You're welcome.
[Blackwell:] Brianna?
[Keilar:] When President Trump ordered air strikes on Syria, he join a list of presidents that had used them to send a warning or punish an enemy. Ahead, we'll look at what those major missile attacks accomplished.