© Kevin Lamarque / ReutersU.S. President Barack Obama talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru November 20, 2016.
"At the beginning of the session, they greeted each other and had a very brief chat," said Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov.
The Kremlin spokesman said earlier that no formal talks had been scheduled, but predicted that Putin and Obama could "talk on their feet... about current issues."
Back in September, Putin and Obama held what the US President described as a "candid, blunt and businesslike" 90-minute meeting at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, which focused primarily on finding a resolution to the Syrian crisis, on which they hold widely divergent views.
Earlier this week, Obama urged the incoming administration to "stand up" to Russia, and be "realistic in recognizing there are some significant differences in how Russia views the world and how we view the world." He insisted that Washington should avoid "realpolitik" and, and must not strike "deals" with Moscow, if it "violates international norms" - particularly on Syria, and cyber warfare.
"I don't expect that the President-elect will follow exactly our approach," Obama said.
Meanwhile, Putin has expressed hope that following the change of leadership, the two countries can "work on their relationship" to escape the current "crisis state." Putin and Trump have already spoken on the phone.
Representatives of 21 Pacific Rim states, who have arrived in the Peruvian capital Lima for the annual APEC summit, are holding two lengthy sessions through Sunday. One is dedicated to trade and investment, and the other to tackling regional issues, including climate change, food security and water access.
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