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Putin’s adviser: Obama asked for meeting with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the head of the Russian Nuclear Agency Rosatom Sergei Kirilenko, right, at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia Friday, Sept. 25, 2015.(Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA-Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the head of the Russian Nuclear Agency Rosatom Sergei Kirilenko, right, at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia Friday, Sept. 25, 2015.(Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA-Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the head of the Russian Nuclear Agency Rosatom Sergei Kirilenko, right, at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia Friday, Sept. 25, 2015.(Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA-Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

By Associated Press 1 min read

MOSCOW (AP) – A foreign affairs adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin says it was U.S. President Barack Obama who wanted to meet with Putin, not the other way around.

Moscow and Washington on Thursday put an end to weeks of speculation and announced that the two leaders would be meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Monday.

Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov on Friday blasted White House press secretary Josh Earnest for saying it was Putin who approached Obama. Ushakov insisted the invitation came from the Obama administration on Saturday when Moscow was offered two options.

In contradiction to Earnest’s statements, Ushakov said the two leaders will focus on the situation in in Syria and the Middle East, and that Ukraine will be a minor subject of discussion.