By James Chapman and Tamara Cohen PUBLISHED: 03:23 EST, 9 September 2013 | UPDATED: 02:37 EST, 10 September 2013 American plans for military strikes on Syria were in disarray last night after Russia seized on a blunder from US Secretary of State John Kerry. Mr Kerry suggested the Syrian tyrant could prevent international military action against his country by giving up his chemical weapons arsenal. He caused further confusion in Washington by promising any missile strikes that may take place would be ‘unbelievably small’. Scroll down for video Pressure: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, called on Syria to comply with an American ultimatum to hand over its chemical weapons during a meeting with Syrian counterpart  Walid al-Mouallem, right
@highlight
U.S secretary of state John Kerry lands in London for Syrian crisis talks
@highlight
Suggested in off-the-cuff remarks that military action could be avoided if Assad handed over store of chemical weapons
@highlight
Russian Foreign Minister calls on ally Syria to obey ultimatum
@highlight
White House is attempting to get Congress to back military intervention
@highlight
25 nations sign statement blaming Assad regime for chemical attack
@highlight
Kerry also said any missile strikes would be 'unbelievably small'
night the US government said it would take a ‘hard look’ at the @placeholder