The G7 ministers are meeting in Italy, with the issue of Syria firmly atop their agenda after last week's deadly gas attack and the subsequent United States missile strike in response.
United States secretary of state Rex Tillerson has pointedly visited the Italian village of Sant' Anna Di Stazzema before a G7 foreign ministers meeting in the nearby city of Lucca.
In 1944, the village was the site of an infamous Nazi war crime against the Italian resistance in the Second World War.
The paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party, the SS, massacred around 560 people, including 130 children.
Nearly 73 years later, Mr Tillerson has not hesitated to invoke those memories in the aftermath of the alleged gas attack on the Syrian village of Khan Sheikhoun.
"We remember the events of August 12th, 1944, that occurred in Sant 'Anna. And we rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world. And this place will serve as an inspiration to us all."
But what to actually do to eventually bring peace to Syria is another matter and is the subject of intense discussions between Mr Tillerson and his fellow G7 foreign ministers.
The G7 brings together Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Britain, the United States, and Japan, with the European Union also represented.
Ironically, the gathering used to be the G8 until Russia was thrown out in 2014 for annexing Crimea from Ukraine.
Now, the group sees Russia as guilty on a different front, for militarily supporting the Syrian government of Bashar Al Assad and tipping the country's civil war in his favour.
Russia is again defending its ally in the wake of last week's attack, saying the gas came from a bomb striking chemical-weapons stockpiles that belonged to opposition forces.
But British foreign secretary Boris Johnson says Russia is not acting in its own best interests in siding with Mr Assad.
"The position of Vladimir Putin, now he's toxifying the reputation of Russia by his continual association with a guy who has flagrantly poisoned his own people. And I think that the world can see this."
The United States remains the face of efforts to try to change Russia's mind, a fact readily acknowledged by Mr Johnson.
"What we're trying to do is to give Rex Tillerson the clearest possible mandate from us as the West, the UK, all our allies here, to say to the Russians, 'This is your choice: Stick with that guy, stick with that tyrant, or work with us to find a better solution.'"
Mr Tillerson is set to travel to Moscow at the conclusion of the G7 meeting, although he will not be meeting with Vladimir Putin.
With the self-proclaimed Islamic State still the prime target of both the United States and Russia, it remains unclear how hard he will press the Russian president.
Mr Johnson says he is keen to see further sanctions imposed on both Syria and Russian military figures who have helped Syria.
Canada also says it is ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russia.
German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel says there has to be a united position on the Syrian issue and a focus on peace.
"Now is the right moment to talk about how we can push for a peace process in Syria within the international community, with Russia, with Iran, with Saudi Arabia, with Europe, with the United States, to prevent military violence escalating on and on. It's all about this."
But at the same time, the United States is not ruling out more military action against Syria.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer says it depends on the Syrian government.
"The sight of people being gassed and blown away by barrel bombs ensures that, if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action."
More foreign ministers from outside the G7 are set to join the meeting for its second and final day.
The foreign ministers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar -- all opposed to Mr Assad -- will meet with their G7 counterparts to discuss Syria.
The meeting of the G7 foreign ministers is a prelude to the G7 meeting itself, also set for Italy, next month.
