Russia was unable to convince US on Syria, Putin aide says

In Putin's conversation with Obama, the Russian leader “was unable to convince” the United States, Foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said. “One can say that Putin and [US President Barack] Obama understand the position of the other side better. As for practical paths to resolving the situation, differences remained,” he said.

The United States, Britain, France and Germany, have proposed a UN Security Council resolutions that would threaten President Bashar al-Assad and his government with sanctions in a bid to halt the violence. Russia has put forward its own resolution which does not contain a sanctions threat.

The White House said Putin and Obama agreed on the need to stop violence, but differed over the way forward. “They noted the differences our governments have had on Syria, but agreed to have their teams continue to work toward a solution,” the White House said in a statement.