Putin and Obama discussed situation in Syria and Ukraine

YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Russian PresidentVladimir Putin had atelephone conversation with President oftheUnited States ofAmerica Barack Obama ontheAmerican side’s initiative. The heads of states had asubstantive discussion onissues ofsettling theconflicts inUkraine andtheMiddle East with afocus onfinding ways toresolve theSyrian crisis, aswell asthesituation ontheKorean Peninsula, Reuters reported, as “Armenpress” informs.

As Press Service of Kremlin informed, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed, inparticular, theneed forKiev’s full andrigorous observance oftheMinsk Agreements, including establishing adirect dialogue with Donbass, reaching anagreement with them ontheconstitutional amendments under preparation, holding local elections andtheentry into force oflaws onspecial status andamnesty.

Both Presidents noted theimportance oftheupcoming contacts between thetwo nations’ representatives onUkrainian issues.

Theleaders expressed mutual support fortheUN’s efforts toorganize talks attheend ofJanuary inGeneva between theSyrian government andtherepresentative delegation ofopposition circles with theaim ofreaching political settlement inSyria inaccordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Vladimir Putin once again stressed theneed tocreate abroad coalition forfighting ISIS andother extremist organizations, emphasizing theneed forquickly preparing lists ofterrorist structures andrefusing double standards inlabeling particular groups.

ThePresidents discussed certain aspects ofbilateral contacts invarious formats, including inthemilitary sphere, aimed atconsolidating efforts inthefight against thethreat ofterrorism intheMiddle East.

Theleaders also called fordeescalating tensions following thecrisis intherelations between Saudi Arabia andIran.