Syria War Dominates UN as Strained Ties Hamper Obama, Putin

  • Obama, Putin fail to reach breakthrough in 90-minute talk
  • Role of Syria's Assad in any agreement divides leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama pose for photographs before the start of a bilateral meeting at the United Nations headquarters on Sept. 28, 2015, in New York City.

Photographer: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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World leaders remain divided over how to end the carnage in Syria after the first face-to-face talks between the presidents of Russia and the U.S. ended without signs of a significant breakthrough.

Russian leader Vladimir PutinBloomberg Terminal, wrapping up a one-day visit to New York, told reporters that a 90-minute meeting with Obama at the United Nations was “frank” and that “relations between Russia and the United States are unfortunately at a pretty low level.”