BARACK Obama and Vladimir Putin have taken time out from the G20 summit for an in-depth discussion on terrorism and the situation in Syria.

The US and Russian Presidents huddled on the sidelines of the summit for 35 minutes to discuss Russia’s military moves in Syria as well as UN-mediated negotiations between the Syrian opposition and regime, to take place by January 1.

“The conversation lasted approximately 35 minutes and centred around ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in Syria, an imperative made all the more urgent by the horrifying terrorist attacks in Paris,” a US official said.

Obama and Putin agreed on the need for United Nations talks, a ceasefire and a transition government in Syria, the US official said, echoing a plan for Syria already forged by diplomats at talks in Vienna the previous day.

The Kremlin said “divergences” remained on tactics even if they shared the same goal against Islamic State.

It was the two presidents’ first meeting since Russia in September launched an air campaign in Syria which the Kremlin insists is aimed against IS jihadists. The West however suspects Moscow’s true aim is to target opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In images captured on Turkish public television, Putin and Obama were seen hunching towards each other as they held animated talks, in stark contrast to the frigid body language that marked previous meetings.

Russia is Syria’s biggest benefactor, and Putin’s buy-in is crucial to any political transition. The Russian leader was also scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel late on Sunday.

Obama later huddled with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, another crucial player in the effort to end the Syrian war. The Saudis are staunch opponents of Assad and a major funder of rebel groups in the country.

Putin began launching air strikes in Syria about a month ago, a campaign he says is aimed at the Islamic State group, but the US views as an effort to strengthen Assad’s grip on power.

Mr Obama acknowledged the importance of Russia’s military efforts in Syria focused on defeating IS.

“The skies have been darkened by the horrific attacks that took place in Paris just a day and a half ago,” Obama said shortly after arriving in Antalya. He waved off a question from reporters about whether he would authorise additional action against IS.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the summit host, pledged leaders would produce a “strong message” about fighting international terrorism, though he, too, did not spell out specific steps.

Putin urged nations to pool their efforts to combat terrorism, adding that the fight must respect international law, the UN Charter and each nation’s sovereign rights and interests.

“We understand very well that it’s only possible to deal with the terror threat and help millions of people who lost their homes by combining efforts of the entire global community,” Putin said.

While US officials said Obama viewed the attacks in France as an act of war, they cautioned he had no plans to overhaul his strategy for dismantling the Islamic State group and said he remained staunchly opposed to an American ground war in Syria. Instead, they foreshadowed an expansion of steps the US is already taking, namely air strikes and train-and-equip missions for rebels inside Syria.

TURNBULL AT THE G20

The G20 summit will wrap up on Monday afternoon with leaders including Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull agreeing on a way forward to deal with violent extremism and kickstart a faltering global economy.

Taking part in a minute’s silence for the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks, Mr Turnbull told fellow leaders at Sunday’s opening session the attack claimed by Islamic State was a crime not just against France but “all of humanity”.

He said there were “challenges” facing the global economy since growth targets were set at the 2014 Brisbane summit, but while it was a time of volatility it was also a “time of opportunity”.

The G20 leaders were finalising a stand-alone statement — separate to the final communiqué — to be released at end of the summit, which was expected to commit nations to redoubling their efforts to defeat terrorism and bring about a political solution in Syria.

In Turkey, five police officers were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up during a police raid on a suspected IS hide-out near the Syrian border. Turkish security forces also rounded up 20 suspected IS militants in and around Antalya before the summit.

Mr Turnbull said he supported a transition to a Syrian government with “broad support”, so millions of refugees could return to a peaceful home.

The prime minister met with Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council on Sunday.

The two European leaders said planning work was under way ahead of the proposed start of formal talks on an EU-Australia free trade agreement in 2017.

They also praised Australia for its efforts in promising to resettle 12,000 refugees from the Syrian crisis.

Mr Turnbull conveyed to French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius — standing in for his president Francois Hollande — Australia’s condolences on the deaths of 129 people and wounding of at least 350 in the terror attacks.

Mr Fabius said terrorists were not acting because of countries being involved in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria, but because they don’t like the Western way of life.

“They want the majority of the population to equate Muslims to terrorism in order to have some sort of civil war,” he said.

“It’s why obviously it’s a very difficult moment. But fortunately we are supported by our friends like you (Australia).”

The final communiqué, to be released on Monday afternoon, was expected to call on G20 leaders to “carefully calibrate” policy decisions to deliver confidence to consumers and business.

In a reference to refugees fleeing Syria and north Africa, it will say all nations should share the burden and provide humanitarian aid but in the longer term a political solution is needed.

Mr Turnbull met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi where they discussed the free trade agreement which Australia wants concluded by the end of the year.

He is due to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday before the final working session of the summit and jetting off to the APEC leaders’ meeting in Manila.