(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to press for a ceasefire to halt the war in Syria.
The two spoke by telephone for the first time since the US launched air strikes against Syria nearly a month ago, straining relations.
White House and Kremlin statements suggested a productive conversation.
Other topics discussed included North Korea and the timing of a future face-to-face meeting.
Mr Trump ordered cruise missile strikes on a Syrian government airbase following the deaths of more than 80 people in a suspected chemical weapons attack on the Syrian rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun on 4 April.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the incident was fabricated, while Russia, Mr Assad’s main foreign backer, said at the time that it was caused by an air strike hitting a rebel depot containing chemical weapons.
