President Obama and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin didn’t make eye contact in a chilly handshake Monday on the sidelines of the Paris climate summit.
A photo of their encounter shows Putin staring into space as Obama towers over him.
During a 30-minute chat, Obama stressed the importance of targeting ISIS militants in Syria and not focusing military attacks against rebel groups that oppose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a White House official told Reuters.
“The two presidents discussed the imperative of making progress on the Vienna process [Syria talks] to bring about a ceasefire and political resolution to the civil war in Syria,” the official said.
The US and other world powers want to wipe out ISIS in Syria and Iraq — but fear Russia’s intervention in the region is meant to prop up Assad.
Last week, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane at the Syrian-Turkish border, claiming the craft had ignored warnings about violating Turkish airspace.
The White House official said Obama expressed regret over the death of one of the Russian pilots.