The White House called the main topic of the talks between Putin and Obama – RBC

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Archival photo

Photo: REUTERS 2015

The situation in Ukraine is the main theme that President Barack Obama intends to discuss during the meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the Washington Post reported citing a statement by the White House. Earlier Thursday, the fact of the meeting of the two heads of state in New York confirmed Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

«Given the situation in Ukraine and Syria, despite our profound differences with Moscow, the president [Barack Obama] He believes that it would be irresponsible not to try to make progress through negotiations with Russia on a high level “, – stated in the Obama administration. Reuters and The New York Times led the same quote, indicating that it belongs to senior White House.

The official said that Obama “wants to take advantage of this meeting to discuss the situation in Ukraine.” “It will focus on how to make sure that Moscow will meet the expectations concerning [performance] Minsk Agreement.” The White House stressed that it would be “the main mission of these bilateral negotiations.” The importance of a common position on the implementation of the Minsk Agreement and emphasized the European partners in the United States, indicated in Washington.

Presumably, the meeting will also discuss the situation in Syria. As the Washington Post, the White House statement said the need to discuss the leaders of the two countries’ military assistance to Russian government of Bashar al-Assad.

Earlier today, Dmitry Peskov, said that in New York, Vladimir Putin will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Obama. The press secretary said that the two held talks on Monday on 28 September. Sources Reuters notes that the meeting between Obama and Putin comes at the initiative of the Russian side.

Recently, Putin and Obama will hold bilateral talks in 2013. It happened at the summit of the “Big Eight” in the British Lough Erne. After that Russian and US presidents have met several times at international summits, but their conversations were brief. Recent meetings in this format were held in November in China and Australia, the APEC summits and the G20.