WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the sidelines of the climate summit in Paris on Monday and discussed the Syrian crisis as well as the situation in Ukraine, a White House official said.

Obama told Putin he believes Syrian President Bashar al- Assad must leave power as part of a political transition, the official said.

He also emphasized a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, adding that sanctions against Russia can be rolled back when Moscow honors the Minsk accord, according to the White House official, who spoke on background. (Reuters)