United States President Barack Obama telephoned Russian leader Vladimir Putin Tuesday to discuss the launch of Syrian peace talks in Switzerland Wednesday, according to Reuters.
The Kremlin issued a statement saying that the US leader called to discuss the highly-anticipated international conference that will bring Syrian regime and opposition leaders, as well as other country delegations, to the same table for the first time in an effort to end the Syrian crisis.
The Kremlin reported that the conversation was "businesslike and constructive," despite what is seen as tense relations between the U.S. and Russia over Syria, with Moscow largely backing the Assad regime and Washington supporting the rebels.
The conference is scheduled to start Wednesday, Jan. 22 in the Swiss city of Montreux, with direct talks between Syrian regime and opposition delegations to begin Friday in Geneva.
