Obama: I Don’t Think Putin Has the Same Values We Do

Obama: I Don't Think Mr. Putin Has the Same Values That We Do (RealClearPolitics)

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But do you trust he has the same goal? Do you really trust that?

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I don’t think that Mr. Putin has the same values that we do. And I think– obviously, by– protecting Mr. Assad– he has a different attitude about– the Assad regime. But what I’ve also said to him directly– is that we both have an interest in preventing chaos, we both have an interest in preventing terrorism, the situation in Syria right now is untenable, as long as Mr. Assad’s in power, there is gonna be some sort of conflict there, and that we should work together to try to find a way in which the interests of all the parties inside of Syria, the Alawites, the Sunnis, the Christians, that everybody is represented and that there is a way of bringing the temperature down so that– that horrible things that are happening inside the country–

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you–

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: –are continuing to happen.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you –

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: And I think there’s a way for– Mr. Putin, despite– me and him having a whole lot of differences, to play an important role in that. And so I welcome him being involved. I welcome him saying, “I will take responsibility for pushing my client, the Assad regime– to deal with these chemical weapons.”

Because– I think that if, in fact– not only Russia gets involved, but if– potentially Iran gets involved– as well in recognizing that what’s happening there is a train wreck that hurts not just Syrians but destabilizing the entire region–