President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin were photographed in a brief exchange in Peru amid frosty dealings over Syria.
They spoke briefly on Sunday as an economic summit got under way in Peru, in their first known conversation since Donald Trump was elected the next U.S. president.
The two leaders were seen chatting as reporters were allowed in briefly for the start of the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima.
They stood off to the side together momentarily with aides close by before shaking hands and then taking their seats around a table.
It was unclear what the two were discussing, and their words weren't audible to journalists present.
The White House did not immediately provide details about the content of their conversation.
The short interaction came amid intense speculation and concern about whether Trump's election might herald a more conciliatory U.S. approach to Russia.
Under Obama, the U.S. has enacted severe sanctions on Russia over its aggressive behavior in Ukraine and has sought unsuccessfully to persuade Moscow to stop intervening in Syria's civil war to help prop up Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Trump and Putin have already signaled they may pursue a less antagonistic relationship after Trump takes office in January.
In a phone call shortly after Trump was elected, Putin congratulated him and expressed readiness for a 'partner-like dialogue,' the Kremlin said.
In the run-up to the election, the U.S. also accused Russia of trying to interfere in the election, including by hacking into Democratic Party email systems.
Obama has raised concerns directly to Putin ahead of the election about Russian hacking, and the U.S. also registered complaints through a hotline set up to avert accidental nuclear war.
Throughout the campaign, the Kremlin insisted that it had no favorites and rejected the claims of interference in the U.S. election.
It follows revelations Putin is expected to contact Trump once he takes over in the White House to get his agreement on bombing targets in Syria.
Obama's suggestion is that Trump could soften some of his more hard-line positions on immigration, terrorism and other issues once he confronts the reality of having to run the country. But the candidates Trump announced this past week for key national security posts — Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn for national security adviser and Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo to lead the CIA — sent a signal that Trump intends to lead exactly as he said he would during the campaign.
Leaders in every region of the world have expressed concern about Trump's stances on immigration, trade, NATO and other matters.
During his stop in Greece, he also carved out time to tour the Acropolis and Parthenon.
From there, it was on to Germany to visit one final time with Chancellor Angela Merkel, with whom he has collaborated closely during the past eight years. Obama also met as a group in Berlin with the leaders of Germany, Britain, Spain, France and Italy before he headed for Peru.
Cc Daily Mail
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