White House Confirms Obama Sitdown With Vladimir Putin

White House officials confirm President Obama is likely to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin next week, during the United Nations Assembly in New York City.

Speaking to select White House reporters anonymously, officials admitted that they were still trying to set a specific time, but that they were certain that it would happen.

A spokesperson from the Kremlin announced earlier today that Putin would meet with Obama on Monday.

The White House cited Obama’s desire to engage with Putin in spite of his questionable militaristic activity overseas.

“Given the situations in Ukraine and Syria, despite our profound differences with Moscow, the president believes that it would be irresponsible not to test whether we can make progress through high-level engagement with the Russians,” White House officials said, according to the New York Times.