meetings to occur. this agreement, i think, as you re aware, was entered into between jordan, the united states, and russia, and we are we have a very clear picture of who will provide the security forces, but we have a few more details to work out, and if i could, i d like to defer on that until that is completed. i expect that will be completed within the next less than a week. the talks are very active and ongoing. and your second question, again? does the administration still believe that assad has no role in the future government of syria. yes, our position continues to be that we see no long-term role for the assad family or the assad regime. we just and we have made this clear to everyone. we ve certainly made it clear in our discussions with russia, that we do not think syria can achieve international recognition in the future, even if they work through a successful political process. the international community
disagreement at this point. as to the syria cease-fire, i would say what may be different this time, i think, is the level of commitment on the part of the russian government. they see the situation in syria transitioning from the defeat of isis, which we are progressing rapidly, as you know, and this is what really has led to this discussion with them as to what do we do to stabilize syria once the fight against isis is won. russia has an interest in syria becoming a stabilized and unified place but ultimately a place where we can facilitate a political discussion about their future, including the future leadership of syria. so, i think part of why we re and again, we ll see what happens as to the ability to hold the cease-fire, but i think part of what s different is
we just got in the audiotape of secretary tillerson s briefing with reporters on this more than two hour meeting with president putin. let s listen in. thanks for staying with us. president trump and president putin met this afternoon for 2 hours and 15 minutes right here on the sidelines of the g-20. the two leaders exchanged viewers on the current nature of the u.s./russia relationship and the future of the u.s./russia relationship. they discussed important progress that has been made in syria and i think all of you have seen some of the news that just broke regard iing a de-escalation agreement and memorandum, agreed between the united states, russia and jordan for an important area in southwest syria that effects jordan s security, but also is a
meeting with trump. a longer, perhaps more formal meeting. the fact this went longer, private, would that seem like a victory for vladimir putin? reporter: i think so, because pretty low expectations leer in russ here in russia and the kremlin about what this first meeting could achieve. the media saying, agree to meet again, it would be considered success. very apprehensive what donald trump can deliver in terms of meeting russia s interests on various issues. so they were trying to play down the significance of the meeting saying a first step in what will be a long relationship. breaking news is coming to us from the russian state media tass quoting president putin and what was discussed with the 2 hour almost 2 hour, 20 minute meeting with donald trump. according to putin, on the tass news agency, they discussed the situation in syria, in ukraine
syria. secretary of state tillerson saying that this cease-fire could be in his words a precursor to further cooperation between the u.s. and russia in syria. joined now by cnn s senior white house correspondent jim acosta, traveling with the president. he is in hamburg, germany. jim acosta, a remarkable and i think fair to say unexpected development here, this lengthy discussion between putin and trump on russian meddling in the election? jim, i think it s a huge development. i think it s a sign that president trump has been listening to his critics on this issue. it was just yesterday when the president was saying at that press conference in warsaw that perhaps other countries were involved in the meddling in last year s election. that it was not russia alone despite consensus from the u.s. intelligence community. you mentioned, a few minutes ago after the meeting with vladimir putin, secretary of state rex tillerson told the press gathered there in that briefing