Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama, first time in two years, agreed to meet next week at UN General Assembly session. The Kremlin and White House leaders yet have different views upon the issues for discussion, Reuters reports.
Whether the White House insisted the meeting would focus on eastern Ukraine, Moscow, however, said the main focus would be on Syria, where Russia has built up its military forces in recent weeks with combat aircraft, tanks and other equipment in support of President Bashar al-Assad.
Dmitriy Peskov, Russian President`s spokesperson when asked whether Ukraine would be discussed, said: "Well, if time allows."
In response, Obama`s spokesperson Josh Earnest retorted that there will be time.
In addition, theparties expressed different views over who called for the meeting. The Kremlin said it was organized "by mutual agreement," but Earnest said it was being held at Putin's request. He said the Russians were "more desperate" to talk to their American counterparts because of the economic sanctions' impact, AFP states.
