New York, September 25 (RHC)-- U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York next week at a time of high tension between the two countries.

The meeting, confirmed by both sides, comes as Moscow-Washington ties have hit their lowest point since the end of the Cold War over the Ukraine crisis and the situation in Syria.

The White House says Ukraine will top the agenda of the talks between Obama and Putin. However, Moscow says the presidents will rather focus on Syria. "Of course, the primary topic will be Syria," the Russian president’s spokesman said on Thursday. Asked whether Ukraine would be discussed, he said: "Well, if time allows."

"There will be time," White House spokesman Josh Earnest responded during a daily news briefing in Washington. He, however, played down the possibility for any "major announcement" from the meeting.