Obama may cancel talks with Putin on Russia G20 summit trip - media

PanARMENIAN.Net - US President Barack Obama may cancel scheduled talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow during his trip to Russia for a G20 summit in September, The New York Times reported Thursday, July 18 citing US officials.

The cancellation would reflect growing tensions between Washington and Moscow “over a whole range of issues” aggravated recently by a standoff over the fate of US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, who has asked for temporary asylum in Russia, the newspaper said, according to RIA Novosti.

“While the White House may be using the meeting as leverage to win cooperation as it seeks the return to the United States of Mr. Snowden, who is now staying at Moscow’s airport, the reconsideration also reflects a broader concern that the two countries are far apart on issues like Syria, Iran, arms control and missile defense,” The New York Times speculated.

The White House declined to comment on the report when asked by RIA Novosti on Thursday, referring to a previous statement on the Obama trip made by spokesman Jay Carney.

“I can say that the president intends to travel to Russia for the G20 summit,” Carney told reporters Wednesday. “I don’t have anything to add to what we’ve said in the past about that trip.”