| Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin talk one on one at G20 summit in Turkey |
BARACK Obama and Vladimir Putin have taken time out from the G20 summit for an in-depth discussion on terrorism and the situation in Syria.
The US and Russian Presidents huddled on the sidelines of the summit for 35 minutes to discuss Russia’s military moves in Syria as well as UN-mediated negotiations between the Syrian opposition and regime, to take place by January 1.
“The conversation lasted approximately 35 minutes and centred around ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in Syria, an imperative made all the more urgent by the horrifying terrorist attacks in Paris,” a US official said.
Obama and Putin agreed on the need for United Nations talks, a ceasefire and a transition government in Syria, the US official said, echoing a plan for Syria already forged by diplomats at talks in Vienna the previous day.
The Kremlin said “divergences” remained on tactics even if they shared the same goal against Islamic State.
It was the two presidents’ first meeting since Russia in September launched an air campaign in Syria which the Kremlin insists is aimed against IS jihadists. The West however suspects Moscow’s true aim is to target opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
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