The two leaders discussed Syria at closed multilateral meetings but could not reach a deal to ease fighting in the war-torn region. But they have agreed to keep up negotiations over a cease-fire agreement. It comes as Syrian government troops - backed by Russia - resumed their siege of the city of Aleppo.
But in their final face-to-face meeting before Obama leaves office in January next year, they agreed to keep up negotiations over a cease-fire agreement.
Speaking today Obama said have a 'candid, blunt, business like meeting' during what a senior US administration official said was a 'constructive meeting'.
It comes as Syrian government troops - backed by Russia - resumed their siege of the city of Aleppo.
A deal to provide aid to Aleppo's ravaged civilians and at least partially stop Russian and Syrian bombardments had looked likely on Sunday, before talks collapsed.
Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov had been trying to broker a deal for weeks that would curb the violence between Assad's government forces and rebel forces backed by the US.
The agreement hinged on the two sides agreeing to closer militarily coordination against extremist groups operating in Syria.
But Obama expressed skepticism that Russia would hold to its agreement and talks were overtaken by developments on the ground.
State media said Syrian government troops had taken an area south of Aleppo, severing the last opposition-held route into its eastern neighbourhoods.
He said today: 'We are back in a situation where Assad is bombing without impunity and strengthening Nusra's position to recruit people for terrorism and that's a dangerous dynamic.
'We want to have productive discussions that would allow us both to focus on our common enemies like ISIS but there are gaps of trust and we haven't yet closed the gap.
'We will keep working at it over the next several days. The faster we can provide relief the better off we will be and we can have a serious conversation about this involving all the parties who are involved in Syria.'
Away from Syria, he also discussed Ukraine and said until the Minsk Agreement was implemented the US would not pull down their sanctions with Russia.
He said it was important for both sides over the next few weeks to seize the opportunity to finalize the agreement.
Unofficial meeting: They have agreed to keep up negotiations over a cease-fire agreement
Via - Dailymail
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