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Russia Says Putin-Obama Meeting 'Constructive'


U.S. President Barack Obama (left) talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice (2nd left) prior to the opening session of the G20 summit in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, Turkey, on November 15.
U.S. President Barack Obama (left) talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice (2nd left) prior to the opening session of the G20 summit in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, Turkey, on November 15.

The Kremlin says informal talks between the Russian and U.S. presidents in southern Turkey have been "constructive" but not groundbreaking.

Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama shook hands before meeting on November 15 on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies.

It was their first meeting since Russia launched air strikes in Syria at the end of September.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 16 that it was "unrealistic to expect that a 20-minute meeting could mark a turning point in the bilateral relations."

The White House said the talks focused on talks to end Syria's civil war and the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and the conflict in eastern Ukraine has plunged Moscow's ties with the West to lows unseen since the Cold War.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax

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