US-Russia tensions on show as Putin and Obama clash over Syria

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and the US president, Barack Obama, clashed 28 September 2015 over their competing visions for Syria, with Obama urging a political transition to replace the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad but Putin warning it would be a mistake to abandon the current government.

Addressing the UN general assembly, Mr Putin said it was a huge mistake not to engage the Syrian army in the fight against Islamic State. He said the Syrian military was the only force truly fighting Isis militants in the country.

Mr Obama, in his speech to the general assembly, said the US was willing to work with Russia, as well as Iran, to achieve a 'managed transition' to remove Assad from power. Syria cannot 'return to the prewar status quo', Obama declared.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Putin and Assad invite West to anti-IS alliance http://www.europeansources.info/record/putin-and-assad-invite-west-to-anti-is-alliance/

EurActiv, 29.09.15: Putin, Obama differ on Bashar al-Assad’s future http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/putin-obama-differ-bashar-al-assads-future-318044

The New York Times, 28.09.15: [Opinion] Putin and Obama Have Profound Differences on Syria http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/opinion/putin-and-obama-have-profound-differences-on-syria.html

Politico, 28.09.15: Obama and Putin: That was awkward http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/barack-obama-vladimir-putin-russia-awkward-214177

Euronews, 29.09.15: Putin says ‘differences can be resolved’ after meeting with Obama http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/29/putin-says-differences-can-be-resolved-after-meeting-with-obama/

Politico, 28.09.15: Obama swipes at Putin, Cheney and Trump in U.N. address http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/obama-un-address-2015-slams-vladimir-putin-dick-cheney-214145

The Independent, 28.09.15: Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin clash over competing visions for Syria http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/barack-obama-and-vladimir-putin-clash-over-competing-visions-for-syria-a6670796.html

BBC News, 29.09.15: Obama, Putin and an ever-elusive Syrian peace process http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34387967

The Independent, 29.09.15: Obama and Putin clash at UN over how to tackle the Syria crisis http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/obama-and-putin-clash-at-un-over-how-to-tackle-the-syria-crisis-a6670881.html

The New York Times, 28.09.15: Obama and Putin Clash at U.N. Over Syria Crisis http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/world/middleeast/obama-and-putin-clash-at-un-over-syria-crisis.html

The Guardian, 29.09.15: When Putin met Obama – diplomacy decoded by the Russian internet http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/29/putin-obama-handshake-russian-internet

BBC News, 24.09.15: Obama and Putin to hold talks at UN http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34351147

The Wall Street Journal, 24.09.15: Putin and Obama to Meet in New York http://www.wsj.com/articles/putin-and-obama-to-meet-in-new-york-1443105937

BBC News, 28.09.15: Syria conflict: Russia wants 'co-ordination' against IS http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34375875

The Guardian, 29.09.15: Putin says he can work with Obama despite trading barbs on Syria and Isis http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/27/putin-russia-syria-assad-propaganda-gangster

EUObserver, 28.09.15: Obama-Putin handshake unlikely to end Western sanctions https://euobserver.com/foreign/130448

Washington Post, 28.09.15: Obama and Putin outline competing visions on Syria http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-and-putin-outline-competing-visions-on-syria/2015/09/28/619fa6a2-6604-11e5-9ef3-fde182507eac_story.html

Euronews, 28.09.15: Putin and Obama talks set to steal limelight at UN www.euronews.com/2015/09/28/putin-and-obama-talks-set-to-steal-limelight-at-un/

Sputnik International, 29.09.15: West Facing Diplomatic Dilemma Over Syria After Putin Offer http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150929/1027712250/west-syria-russia-ISIL.html

Sputnik International, 29.09.15: Stole Obama’s Thunder, Showed Who’s in Charge – West About Putin’s Speech http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150929/1027717555/putin-un-speech-western-media.html

EUObserver, 29.09.15: US to work with Putin on Syria, defends Ukraine sanctions https://euobserver.com/foreign/130467

EurActiv, 30.09.15: Poroshenko mocks Russia's call for anti-terror coalition http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/poroshenko-mocks-russias-call-anti-terrorism-coalition-318088

EUObserver, 30.09.15: Ukraine, Nato rebuke Putin on Syria https://euobserver.com/foreign/130491

Politico, 29.09.15: [Opinion] Putin’s new world order http://www.politico.eu/article/putin-new-world-order-syria-united-nations-new-york/

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 30.09.15: Row over Syria policy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER170661-Row-over-Syria-policy

Le Monde, 29.09.15: Guy Hermet on the prerequisites for democratic transition (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE170653-Guy-Hermet-on-the-prerequisites-for-democratic-transition

---