President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, take their seats at the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Lima, Peru. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press)LIMA, Peru — President Obama spent the last day of his final foreign trip attempting to make headway on one of the most painful aspects of his foreign policy portfolio: the civil war in Syria. Just before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit opened its first formal session here in the Peruvian capital on Sunday, Obama spoke briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was standing by his seat at a massive circular table around which the participants were arrayed. [At economic summit, Obama seeks to shore up U.S. focus on Asia-Pacific region]The four-minute discussion, which a White House official described as “brief and informal,” represented the first time the leaders had spoken in person since the Group of 20 convened in China in September. In this context, they agreed that Lavrov and Kerry will continue contacts.”Obama and his top aides have been sharply critical of Russia’s support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the atrocities his government has carried out in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, where about 275,000 people remain.

Source: Washington Post November 20, 2016 18:11 UTC