Barack Obama to Vladimir Putin: ‘Cheers’ | CNN Politics

Barack Obama to Vladimir Putin: ‘Cheers’

Kevin Liptak
By Kevin Liptak, CNN White House Producer
1 minute read
Updated 9:17 AM EDT, Tue September 29, 2015
Barack Obama and Russian President Valdimir Putin toast during a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the 70th annual U.N. General Assembly on September 28 in New York City.
Barack Obama and Russian President Valdimir Putin toast during a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the 70th annual U.N. General Assembly on September 28 in New York City.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty
Obama and Putin shake hands while posing for a photo ahead of their meeting at U.N. headquarters on September 28 in New York.
Obama and Putin shake hands while posing for a photo ahead of their meeting at U.N. headquarters on September 28 in New York.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Putin speaks with Obama during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing, China on November 11, 2014. U.S.-Russia relations have descended to a new low since Russia annexed Crimea in March.
Putin speaks with Obama during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing, China on November 11, 2014. U.S.-Russia relations have descended to a new low since Russia annexed Crimea in March.
AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Presidential Press Service, File
Obama and Putin share a comical and awkward moment on a large split-screen during an international ceremony on the stretch code-named Sword Beach, in Ouistreham, France, to commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 2014. Obama and Putin had an informal 15-minute chat during lunch at the ceremony that marked the 70th anniversary of the D-day landings. "It's a positive thing that they spoke, but more needs to be done," a senior U.S. official said at the time.
Obama and Putin share a comical and awkward moment on a large split-screen during an international ceremony on the stretch code-named Sword Beach, in Ouistreham, France, to commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 2014. Obama and Putin had an informal 15-minute chat during lunch at the ceremony that marked the 70th anniversary of the D-day landings. "It's a positive thing that they spoke, but more needs to be done," a senior U.S. official said at the time.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
Putin greets Obama at the G-20 summit on September 5, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The United States and Russia have been squaring off over the bloody civil war in Syria.
Putin greets Obama at the G-20 summit on September 5, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The United States and Russia have been squaring off over the bloody civil war in Syria.
Guneev Sergey/Host Photo Agency via Getty Images
Obama listens to Putin after their bilateral meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico on June 18, 2012 on the sidelines of the G-20 summit. The meeting was the first time Obama and Putin held face-to-face talks since Putin returned to the president's office earlier that year. Obama said he and Putin discussed the conflict in Syria and "agreed that we need to see a cessation of the violence, that a political process has to be created to prevent civil war."
Obama listens to Putin after their bilateral meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico on June 18, 2012 on the sidelines of the G-20 summit. The meeting was the first time Obama and Putin held face-to-face talks since Putin returned to the president's office earlier that year. Obama said he and Putin discussed the conflict in Syria and "agreed that we need to see a cessation of the violence, that a political process has to be created to prevent civil war."
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages
Obama, who had become U.S. President six months earlier, enjoys tea with then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and members of the American delegation at Putin's dacha on July 7, 2009 in Moscow.
Obama, who had become U.S. President six months earlier, enjoys tea with then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and members of the American delegation at Putin's dacha on July 7, 2009 in Moscow.
Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images
Tense moments between Obama and Putin
New York CNN  — 

Keep your friends close, and your enemies close enough to glare at during lunch.

That seems to be President Barack Obama’s operating theory at the United Nations Monday, where he sat one seat away from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a lunch for world leaders.

The two are bitterly at odds over Ukraine and Syria, and plan to talk out their rampant differences during a one-on-one meeting later in the day.

Related: Obama hits Putin at U.N. speech

But at lunch, civility appeared to prevail – barely.

“Amid the inevitable trials and setbacks, may we never relax in our pursuit of progress and may we never abandon the pursuit of peace,” Obama said in his toast, before grimly eyeing Putin and clinking glasses.

“Cheers.”

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