'Surprisingly Open': Obama, Putin Talks Go Long After Frosty Opening
Source: NBC News
After a dour handshake, barbed remarks over Syria and a toast that was anything but toasty, U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, held their first formal discussions in two years Monday at the U.N.
Neither leader showed much warmth in a formal handshake for the cameras at the summit meeting at the U.N. General Assembly. And Obama pointedly refused to return Putin's smile during a toast at dinner, remaining grim-looking and stone-faced.
But then their meeting, originally scheduled for an hour, ran for 90 minutes, ending about 6:40 p.m. ET.
No major announcements were made afterward — and none had been expected when the two men sat down to talk. But Putin told reporters afterward that the discussion was "very constructive and surprisingly open."
Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/obama-putin-talks-frosty-start-u-n-n435261
Russia Today: ‘Constructive & surprisingly frank’: Putin meets Obama on UNGA sidelines
The meeting between the two leaders lasted for approximately an hour and a half – surpassing the limit of 55 minutes. After the talks, President Putin walked out to meet the press and answer questions about the meeting and the speech he had delivered to UNGA.
“Today’s meeting was very constructive, practical and surprisingly frank,” the Russian President told the press. “We found a lot of common ground, but there are differences as well. In fact they are known, so there is no need to repeat them.”
While Obama did not talk to the press following the meeting, a US official confirmed to Reuters that the presidents agreed to explore options for a political solution in Syria, with disagreements remaining over the future of President Bashar Assad. Political talks will continue between US and Russian foreign ministers, while the Pentagon would arrange the military-to-military talks, the official added.
In his address to the General Assembly, Putin reiterated that Damascus’ government remains a legitimate power in Syria while the national army is the only armed force legally fighting terrorism in Syria. Russia’s president again proposed the joining of efforts and the creation of a broad international coalition against terrorism, which would coordinate its efforts with Damascus.
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http://www.rt.com/news/316832-putin-obama-unga-meeting/
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Mr. Obama!