--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the Russians need to think more…" description: "\"I think the Russians need to think more carefully about the commitment they made under the chemical weapons agreements to be the guarantor that these w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/rex-w-tillerson-20399_chemical-weapons_i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more_2712520.jpg" --- # I think the Russians need to think more carefully about… ![“I think the Russians need to think more carefully about the commitment they made under the chemical weapons agreements to be the guarantor that these weapons would be seized, they would be removed, they would be destroyed. And since they are Bashar al-Assad's ally, they would have the closest…” quote by Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/rex-w-tillerson-20399_chemical-weapons_i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more_2712520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/rex-w-tillerson-20399_chemical-weapons_i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more_2712520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/rex-w-tillerson-20399_chemical-weapons_i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more_2712520.jpg) > “I think the Russians need to think more carefully about the commitment they made under the chemical weapons agreements to be the guarantor that these weapons would be seized, they would be removed, they would be destroyed. And since they are Bashar al-Assad's ally, they would have the closest insight as to the compliance.” [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Russia must honor its obligations to secure, remove, and destroy chemical weapons, especially given its alliance with Assad. **In simple terms:** Russia should follow its chemical weapons commitments. Key Takeaway Ensure compliance and accountability. Themes international law security non‑proliferation Mood concerned serious Type political policy When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - UN inspections - policy enforcement - regional stability Key Concepts chemical weapons state responsibility alliance dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can international mechanisms enforce agreements? - What role does alliance politics play? A Different Perspective Political complexities may hinder full compliance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assad Ally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assad-ally-2818464/) [Chemical weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-weapons/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Russians Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russians-need-2610054/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Weapons Agreements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-agreements-2818463/) [Weapons Seized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-seized-2818462/) ## Related quotes > [The Russians need to understand. I think they've been treating it as almost a probing, how far would we go, how much would we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-russians-need-to-understand-i-think-they-ve-been-treating-it-as/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Russians always need a little sh\*t in our lives. If everything is good and we seem completely happy, then we become suspicious of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/russians-always-need-a-little-sh-t-in-our-lives-if-everything-is-good/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [We need to be stronger. We need to deter the Russians. We need to show resolve, which is why cooperating with them on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/we-need-to-be-stronger-we-need-to-deter-the-russians-we-need-to-show/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [ The Russians need to understand that you cannot have peace \[in Syria\] unless you resolve the question of Sunni buy-in. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-russians-need-to-understand-that-you-cannot-have-peace-in-syria/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I think the President Donald Trump was quite clear in his statement that he made to the American people that Syria's continued violations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-think-the-president-donald-trump-was-quite-clear-in-his-statement/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [ For example, the use of chemical weapons \[in Syria\]- some on the Democrat side have said well, this encourages the North Koreans to use… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/for-example-the-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-syria-some-on-the-democrat/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Every day Saddam remains in power with chemical weapons, biological weapons, and the development of nuclear weapons is a day of danger for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/every-day-saddam-remains-in-power-with-chemical-weapons-biological/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [I believe that the topic of chemical weapons is critically important for international peace and security, and I take note of the ongoing debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-believe-that-the-topic-of-chemical-weapons-is-critically-important/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons - are just that, and no cause can excuse their use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/weapons-of-mass-destruction-nuclear-biological-and-chemical-weapons/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [Who cares how we avoided a war and got a dictator to give up his chemical weapons if we avoided a war and got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/who-cares-how-we-avoided-a-war-and-got-a-dictator-to-give-up-his/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [The United States, a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, destroyed the last of its stocks of VX and other chemical agents on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/the-united-states-a-signatory-to-the-chemical-weapons-convention/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [Under Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq possessed and used chemical weapons against both their own Kurdish population and Iranian military forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/under-saddam-hussein-the-nation-of-iraq-possessed-and-used-chemical/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [My goal is to maintain the international norm on banning chemical weapons. I want that enforcement to be real. I want it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-goal-is-to-maintain-the-international-norm-on-banning-chemical/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/the-last-un-weapons-inspectors-left-iraq-in-october-of-1998-we-are/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) ## More by Rex W. Tillerson > [Russia and the USA are two largest nuclear powers in the world; it's a really important relationship. How do we start making this work?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/russia-and-the-usa-are-two-largest-nuclear-powers-in-the-world-it-s-a/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [The military progress both in Syria and in Iraq has been remarkable since President Donald Trump's inauguration. We have continued to liberate areas. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/the-military-progress-both-in-syria-and-in-iraq-has-been-remarkable/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [I think the Russians have played now for some time the role of providing cover for Bashar al-Assad's behavior. The alternative explanation that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-think-the-russians-have-played-now-for-some-time-the-role-of/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [There have been over a million wells hydraulically fractured in the history of the industry, and there is not one, not one, reported case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/there-have-been-over-a-million-wells-hydraulically-fractured-in-the/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [I think what we're hopeful is through this Syrian process, working with coalition members, working with the U.N., and in particular working through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-think-what-we-re-hopeful-is-through-this-syrian-process-working/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [I think the President Donald Trump was quite clear in his statement that he made to the American people that Syria's continued violations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-think-the-president-donald-trump-was-quite-clear-in-his-statement/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [It's important that we keep our priorities straight. And we believe that the first priority is the defeat of ISIS. That by defeating ISIS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/it-s-important-that-we-keep-our-priorities-straight-and-we-believe/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [I've made my own comments as to our vales as well in a speech I gave to the State Department.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-ve-made-my-own-comments-as-to-our-vales-as-well-in-a-speech-i-gave/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [President Xi Jinping clearly understands, and I think agrees, that the situation in North Korea has intensified and has reached a certain level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/president-xi-jinping-clearly-understands-and-i-think-agrees-that-the/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [We express America's values from the State Department. We represent the American people. We represent America's values, our commitment to freedom, our commitment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/we-express-america-s-values-from-the-state-department-we-represent/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [I feel it's important that in advising the president, if confirmed, that I deal with facts, that I deal with sufficient information. Which means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-feel-it-s-important-that-in-advising-the-president-if-confirmed/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [Obviously, the United States' own founding principles are self-determination. And I think what the United States and our allies want to do is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/obviously-the-united-states-own-founding-principles-are-self/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [My understanding, I was not standing nearby, but my understanding is that President Xi Jinping said, "Well, no one should kill children." The Chinese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/my-understanding-i-was-not-standing-nearby-but-my-understanding-is/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [We are making tremendous progress that ISIS really does present to the homeland and to other homelands of allies around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/we-are-making-tremendous-progress-that-isis-really-does-present-to/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [Just remember that a pat on the back is only 18 inches from a kick in the behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/just-remember-that-a-pat-on-the-back-is-only-18-inches-from-a-kick-in/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) [Explore all 31 Rex W. Tillerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) ## More Chemical weapons quotes > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/the-last-un-weapons-inspectors-left-iraq-in-october-of-1998-we-are/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [My goal is to maintain the international norm on banning chemical weapons. I want that enforcement to be real. I want it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-goal-is-to-maintain-the-international-norm-on-banning-chemical/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Under Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq possessed and used chemical weapons against both their own Kurdish population and Iranian military forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/under-saddam-hussein-the-nation-of-iraq-possessed-and-used-chemical/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [The United States, a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, destroyed the last of its stocks of VX and other chemical agents on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/the-united-states-a-signatory-to-the-chemical-weapons-convention/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [Who cares how we avoided a war and got a dictator to give up his chemical weapons if we avoided a war and got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/who-cares-how-we-avoided-a-war-and-got-a-dictator-to-give-up-his/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons - are just that, and no cause can excuse their use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/weapons-of-mass-destruction-nuclear-biological-and-chemical-weapons/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I believe that the topic of chemical weapons is critically important for international peace and security, and I take note of the ongoing debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-believe-that-the-topic-of-chemical-weapons-is-critically-important/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Every day Saddam remains in power with chemical weapons, biological weapons, and the development of nuclear weapons is a day of danger for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/every-day-saddam-remains-in-power-with-chemical-weapons-biological/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [ For example, the use of chemical weapons \[in Syria\]- some on the Democrat side have said well, this encourages the North Koreans to use… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/for-example-the-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-syria-some-on-the-democrat/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-waxman/he-has-systematically-violated-over-the-course-of-the-past-11-years/) [Henry Waxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-waxman/) > [Not all G8 members take the view that chemical weapons were in fact used by the Syrian Army. Some actually agree with us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-all-g8-members-take-the-view-that-chemical-weapons-were-in-fact/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [ Actually, he gave false evidence \[of chemical weapons\]. In this case,\[John\] Kerry didn't even present any evidence. He talked "we have evidence" and he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/actually-he-gave-false-evidence-of-chemical-weapons-in-this-case-john/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [“Evolution is messy. Oftentimes our brains evolve more quickly than our capacity to love. Science has unlocked many mysteries of the universe by harnessing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/evolution-is-messy-oftentimes-our-brains-evolve-more-quickly-than-our/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [Any use of chemical weapons, by anyone, under any circumstances, is a grave violation of the 1925 Protocol and other relevant rules of customary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/any-use-of-chemical-weapons-by-anyone-under-any-circumstances-is-a/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) [Browse all 126 Chemical weapons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-weapons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the Russians need to think more carefully about the commitment they made under the chemical weapons agreements to be the guarantor that these weapons would be seized, they would be removed, they would be destroyed. And since they are Bashar al-Assad's ally, they would have the closest insight as to the compliance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rex W. Tillerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more-carefully-about-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chemical weapons" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more-carefully-about-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/rex-w-tillerson-20399_chemical-weapons_i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more_2712520.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/rex-w-tillerson-20399_chemical-weapons_i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more_2712520.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/rex-w-tillerson-20399_chemical-weapons_i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more_2712520.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the Russians need to think more carefully about the commitment they made under the chemical weapons…” — Rex W. Tillerson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rex W. Tillerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the Russians need to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more-carefully-about-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/i-think-the-russians-need-to-think-more-carefully-about-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```