Obama and Putin odd couple at APEC summit
12 Nov 2014 6:31 AM IST
With the two men crossing paths twice this week, first in Beijing and later at a G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, there was little chance they could avoid interacting on the international stage — and with the eyes of the world press and fellow leaders upon them.
Obama and Putin have never had anything close to personal chemistry, and with tensions high especially over Russia’s role in the conflict in Ukraine, there was little warmth on display in their informal contacts at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum.
When the summit opened in a sprawling convention centre at a lake outside Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping walked in with Obama and Putin, both unsmiling, on either side of him.‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ Putin was overheard saying in English in Obama’s general direction, referring to the ornate conference room.‘Yes,’ Obama replied, coldly, according to journalists who witnessed the scene.The three leaders stopped at Xi’s seat at the table. Putin reached out and clapped Obama on the shoulder. Obama barely responded.
The two then took their seat to Xi’s left and right. Later, Obama and Putin were spotted in businesslike conversation, trailed by a translator, as they entered a hall for the summit ‘family photo.’The two had already spoken briefly on the sidelines of Apec at Monday night’s welcoming events, with officials on both sides saying they did not delve into issues that divide them.‘They spoke briefly several times on Tuesday,’ Kremlin spokesman said.
A US official confirmed that discussions had taken place but, like Peskov, offered no details. The two leaders would seem to have much to discuss but little chance of finding common ground. In addition to Ukraine, they are deeply at odds over Russia’s backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.Communicating mostly by telephone over the past year, their contacts have been described as tense.
Obama and Putin have never had anything close to personal chemistry, and with tensions high especially over Russia’s role in the conflict in Ukraine, there was little warmth on display in their informal contacts at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum.
When the summit opened in a sprawling convention centre at a lake outside Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping walked in with Obama and Putin, both unsmiling, on either side of him.‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ Putin was overheard saying in English in Obama’s general direction, referring to the ornate conference room.‘Yes,’ Obama replied, coldly, according to journalists who witnessed the scene.The three leaders stopped at Xi’s seat at the table. Putin reached out and clapped Obama on the shoulder. Obama barely responded.
The two then took their seat to Xi’s left and right. Later, Obama and Putin were spotted in businesslike conversation, trailed by a translator, as they entered a hall for the summit ‘family photo.’The two had already spoken briefly on the sidelines of Apec at Monday night’s welcoming events, with officials on both sides saying they did not delve into issues that divide them.‘They spoke briefly several times on Tuesday,’ Kremlin spokesman said.
A US official confirmed that discussions had taken place but, like Peskov, offered no details. The two leaders would seem to have much to discuss but little chance of finding common ground. In addition to Ukraine, they are deeply at odds over Russia’s backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.Communicating mostly by telephone over the past year, their contacts have been described as tense.
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