Russia ‘disappointed’ by Obama decision

The Kremlin said it was “disappointed” that President Obama has canceled a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin
scheduled for September.

Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said Wednesday that Obama still has
a standing invitation to meet with Putin, according to the Russian Interfax
News Agency.

Ushakov said that the snub showed that the United States was
“not prepared for equal relations” with Russia, according to Interfax.

The White House announced Wednesday that Obama would
not travel to Moscow to meet with Putin for a bilateral summit that was
planned ahead of the G-20 meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia. Obama will still
attend the G-20.

{mosads}The move was made after Moscow’s decision to grant asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, who is wanted in the U.S. on espionage charges.

“Following a careful review begun in July, we have reached
the conclusion that there is not enough recent progress in our bilateral agenda
with Russia to hold a U.S.-Russia Summit in early September,” White House
press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement on Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John
Kerry are still planning to meet with their Russian counterparts in Washington
on Friday.