Trump, Putin talk over phone about Syria

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, with Syria, fighting terrorism, Ukraine and other hotspot issues on the agenda.

Both leaders stressed the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and supporting the UN-led Geneva Process to peacefully resolve the Syrian domestic conflicts, end the humanitarian crisis, allow displaced Syrians to return home, and ensure the stability of a unified Syria free of malign intervention and terrorist safe havens, the White House said in a statement.

Earlier Tuesday, the Kremlin said Putin informed Trump of the outcome of his meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Russia's Sochi on Monday, when the Syrian leader reaffirmed his commitment to a political process, constitutional reform and presidential and parliamentary elections.

Putin and Trump also discussed a trilateral summit of Russian, Iranian and Turkish presidents on Syrian political settlement to be held on Wednesday in Sochi, according to the Kremlin.

The White House also said the two presidents affirmed the importance of fighting terrorism together throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, and agreed to explore ways to further cooperate in the fight against the Islamic State, al-Qaida, the Taliban, and other radical organizations.

Trump and Putin also discussed how to implement a lasting peace in Ukraine, and the need to continue international pressure on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to "halt its nuclear weapon and missile programs," according to the White House statement.