Obama expresses 'regret' to Putin over Turkey's downing of a Russian jet

LE BOURGET, France - President Barack Obama urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to decrease tensions with Turkey, as the U.S. and Russian leaders met briefly on the sidelines of global climate talks outside Paris.

"President Obama expressed his regret for the recent loss of a Russian pilot and crew member and reiterated the United States' support for de-escalation between Russia and Turkey," a White House official said in a readout of the meeting.

During the 30-minute sit-down, Obama expressed regret over Turkey's shoot-down of a Russian plane that Turkey said had entered its airspace from Syria, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said.

He said the two leaders discussed Syria in detail, and they both spoke in favor of moving toward the launch of a political settlement to Syria's civil war.

"The two Presidents discussed the imperative of making progress on the Vienna process to bring about a ceasefire and political resolution to the civil war in Syria," a White House official said.

"President Obama reiterated his belief that it will be necessary for Bashar al-Asad to leave power as a part of the transition and stressed the imperative of focusing military efforts against ISIL, as our international coalition is doing, rather than targeting moderate opposition."

Russia and the U.S. are both involved in a new diplomatic effort in Vienna to bring about a ceasefire, potentially within weeks.

The White House said that Obama told Putin that Syrian President Bashar Assad must leave power as part of that transition, a long-held U.S. position that remains at odds with Russia's support for Assad.

Obama also called on Russia to focus its airstrikes in Syria on Islamic State militants, not rebels fighting Assad, the White House said.

The two leaders also discussed implementing a ceasefire in Ukraine.