WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US President Barack Obama discussed progress in resolving the conflict in Syria with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Climate Change Summit in Paris, a White House official told reporters on Monday.
"President Obama reiterated his belief that it will be necessary for Bashar al-Asad to leave power as a part of the transition and stressed the imperative of focusing military efforts against Daesh [Islamic State], as our international coalition is doing, rather than targeting moderate opposition," the official stated.
“The two Presidents discussed the imperative of making progress on the Vienna process to bring about a ceasefire and political resolution to the civil war in Syria,” the official said.
Earlier on Monday, Obama and Putin spoke on the sidelines of the Climate Change Conference in Paris. The two leaders discussed the importance of making progress in the Vienna talks process that aims to reach a ceasefire and diplomatic solution to the Syrian conflict.
The United States and its European allies do not see Assad as Syria's legitimate leader, and support the country’s opposition that has insisted Assad must resign. By contrast, Russia considers the government of Bashar Assad to be Syria’s legitimate authority.