TRUMP, PUTIN DISCUSS CO-OPERATING ON SYRIA

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin signalled the prospect of increased cooperation in Syria Tuesday, in what the White House called a “very good” discussion that included a focus on setting up safe zones in the war-torn nation.

The White House said the leaders also agreed to try to set up their first inperson meeting in July, on the sidelines of an international summit in Germany.

Tuesday’s phone call marked the first time Trump and Putin have spoken since the U.S. launched missiles against an airbase in Syria, an attack that outraged Russia, one of the Syrian government’s strongest backers. The U.S. action sparked new tensions between Washington and Moscow, with top U.S. officials condemning Putin’s continued support for Syrian leader Bashar Assad.

But the leaders appeared to again be edging toward closer co-operation following Tuesday’s call. The Kremlin said Trump and Putin agreed to bolster diplomatic efforts to resolve the Syrian civil war, which has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. The White House announced it would send a top State official to Russian-led talks on Syria that begin Wednesday.

“President Trump and President Putin agreed that the suffering in Syria has gone on for far too long and that all parties must do all they can to end the violence,” the White House said. “The conversation was a very good one, and included the discussion of safe, or de-escalation, zones to achieve lasting peace for humanitarian and many other reasons.”