Obama, Putin discuss Syria, Ukraine at APEC Summit
US President Barack Obama, left, talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, right, at the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Lima, Peru, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. —PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS/AP
LIMA, Peru — The White House said on Sunday that President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Syria and Ukraine during a four-minute conversation at the start of a summit in Peru.
A White House description of the meeting said that after exchanging pleasantries, Obama encouraged Putin to uphold his country’s commitments under the Minsk deal aimed at ending the conflict. Obama emphasized the commitment by the US and its allies to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The White House said Obama called for Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to keep working on initiatives with other countries to lower violence in Syria and alleviate suffering. A series of diplomatic efforts involving the US and Russia have been unsuccessful at reducing violence in a sustainable way.
Obama and Putin were seen chatting as reporters were allowed in briefly for the start of the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima. They stood off to the side together momentarily before shaking hands and then taking their seats around a table.
It was unclear what the two were discussing, and their words weren’t audible to journalists present.
Obama and Putin have long had a strained relationship. President-elect Donald Trump’s election has raised speculation and concern he might do less to challenge Russian aggression.
Obama and Putin aren’t expected to have any formal meetings while in Peru.
Obama will hold separate meetings, however, with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in between other sessions with world leaders attending an annual Asia-Pacific summit being held in Lima, Peru.
Obama also planned to take questions from the journalists who accompanied him to Greece, Germany and Peru before he flies back to Washington.
Some of those questions are likely to be about Donald Trump, whose election to succeed Obama overshadowed much of the president’s trip.
Obama sought to reassure concerned leaders that the US will stay true to its commitments despite the election of a president who opposed Obama on practically every issue.
RELATED VIDEO
