Monday's meeting between President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken on new importance as both countries are now openly arming opposite sides in the Syrian conflict.
Last week, the White House said it had concluded the government of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is using chemical weapons to put down the nation's rebel uprising. As a result, the White House said the U.S. will provide direct military aid to the rebels.
Obama has made no decision about establishing a no-fly zone over Syria, a move being urged by the rebel council and by a number of Republican U.S. Senators.
The United Nations has revised its death toll figures on the Syrian uprising to more than 90,000 killed as of the end of March, with weekly deaths having escalated to about 5,000.
Obama and Putin are meeting as part of the G8 economic summit in Northern Ireland.
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