Putin and Obama talks set to steal limelight at UN

You see, here’s the thing, in any country- and in the United States, I believe this happens even more often than in any other country- foreign political factors are used for domestic political battles.

Putin’s comments on Sunday come as the world’s leaders meet at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Russian President Vladimir Putin displayed acumen in his 60 Minutes interview on CBS Sunday evening as he ruled out sending Russian troops into Syria, saying, “Well, at least we don’t plan on it right now”.

“We must find a common interest between the different positions, between those who would absolutely talk with Bashar al-Assad, and those who say, “we will not discuss anything until he departs”, he said.

Al Jazeera’s James Bays, reporting from the United Nations, said there was no consensus between Western countries and Russian Federation on how to proceed with the Syrian conflict and “there’s certainly a debate on which enemy to fight first“.

She said the meeting between the two leaders scheduled for Monday is not an indication the US strategy of isolating Putin has failed.

Asked about French air strikes conducted independently of the U.S.-led coalition, Stoltenberg said he welcomed “efforts by all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies to fight ISIL”.

The Baghdad-based spokesman for the U.S.-led campaign against the IS group, Col. Steve Warren, said the USA remains committed to working with Iraq to defeat the extremists.

Cameron’s reference to Assad not playing a part in Syria’s “long-term” future, made in answer to a question about him having an interim role, is a signal that the U.K.is open to the same option, though the prime minister said he was “not going to speculate” on whether it might happen.

Adding to the diplomatic challenges Obama must navigate when meeting with Putin, Iraq’s military announced it will begin sharing “security and intelligence” information with Syria, Russian Federation and Iran to help combat ISIS.

Tehran has been providing financial and military support to the Damascus regime as well as military advisers on the ground in Syria, where more than 240,000 people have died and 4 million people have been driven from their homes.

“We are just at the beginning of trying to understand what the Russians intentions are in Syria, in Iraq and try to see if there are mutually beneficial ways forward here”, a senior USA official said on condition of anonymity, lacking authorization to speak publicly about a private meeting.

Since this is his seventh trip to the United Nations General Assembly, Obama said, “I tend to be more blunt”. Obama will address the body Monday morning, with Putin following shortly after. “But in reality Assad’s army is fighting against terrorist organisations”.

Russian Federation has stepped up its military involvement in Syria in recent weeks, with U.S. officials accusing Moscow of sending combat aircraft, tanks and other equipment to help the Syrian army.

In the interview, Putin said he had personally informed the heads of state of Turkey, Jordan and Saudi Arabia about the new intelligence vehicle.