With a new cold war type handshake, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama started their first formal meeting in a couple of years, a no holes barred discussion about deep differences over the chaos in Syria.
These two leaders met after they outlined their contrasting visions for Syria's future in dueling speeches at the United Nations General Assembly. Obama urged a political transition to replace embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Putin warned it would be a mistake to abandon the current government.
V. Putin and B. Obama are also on opposing sides concerning the crisis in Ukraine.
BBC News - Syria conflict: UN assembly highlights divisions http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34378889
A smack-down before a sit-down http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/barack-obama-vladimir-putin-214131
At U.N., Obama and Putin clash over working with Syria's Assad http://reut.rs/1KFIwjz via @Reuters
PHOTO: Getty Images
Obama has turned Putin into the world's most powerful leader http://nyp.st/1RcPWgk via @nypost