Obama, Putin find common ground on Syria after Paris attacks
Politics
Obama, Putin find common ground on Syria after Paris attacks
US President Barack Obama and Russia’s Vladimir Putin agreed Sunday on a UN role to end the bloodshed in Syria, as the Paris attacks jolted leaders into seeking a united front against Islamic State jihadists. Putting aside important differences, Obama and Putin met on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Turkey. It was the two leaders first meeting since September when Russia launched an air campaign in Syria, which the Kremlin insists is aimed against IS, but the U.S. views as an effort to strengthen Syrian President Assad’s grip on power. Nevertheless, the two agreed on the need for a ceasefire and a transition government in Syria.
We understand very well that it’s only possible to deal with the terror threat and help millions of people who lost their homes by combining efforts of the entire global community.
Putin
The strategy echoed a plan for Syria already forged by diplomats at talks in Vienna the previous day, but it still appeared to mark a perceptible thaw in the icy relations between the former Cold War foes and their leaders. While U.S. officials said Obama viewed the attacks in France as an act of war, they cautioned he had no plans to overhaul his strategy for dismantling the Islamic State group and said he remained staunchly opposed to an American ground war in Syria. However, the President appeared to take a softer tone with Putin in their talks, acknowledging the “importance of Russia’s military efforts." Russia is Syria’s biggest benefactor and Putin’s buy-in is crucial to any political transition.
