President Donald Trump has been infatuated with both Russia and its leadership for over a year now. Based on recent news stories, it appears that his affections weren’t one-sided. They may have helped him win the election. However, as many predicted, this illicit relationship has now put Trump, and the United States, in an awkward position especially where it concerns Syria. 

After dissolving into civil war more than six years ago, Syria’s become a staple in the 24/7 news cycle as different world powers choose sides. Russia is the strongest ally of Syria’s sitting president Bashar al-Assad.

Assad’s methods of attacking his own people have been controversial, to say the least. That controversy came to a head on Tuesday after the worst chemical attack the war has seen in years killed more than 80 people, including 26 children. All suspicion falls on Assad and Russia has backed him despite most of the world condemning the actions.

The Syrian regime continues to deny that it carried out the attack despite witnesses claims that they saw plans drop chemical weapons on the rebel-held town. None of the terrorist groups the regime is pointing a finger at is believed to have access to aerial strikes.

In a test to see where his loyalties lie, Russia has officially asked Trump to release his strategy on on Syria following the attack. The president fell short of making a major declaration, but did call the attack “heinous” and said it  “crossed a lot of lines for me.”

“Yesterday’s chemical attack, a chemical attack that was so horrific in Syria against innocent people, including women, small children and even beautiful little babies, their deaths were an affront to humanity,” Trump said, according to CNN.

While the president made sure the world knew he was affected on a personal level by the tragedy, everyone is still waiting to see if his political strategy will reflect that or if he’ll compromise to appease his Russian interests.