Putin-Obama meeting at G20 summit not planned
Updated: 2013-08-09 21:27
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
MOSCOW - No separate meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama was planned at the upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) summit, a Kremlin aide said Friday.
"Concerning Putin and Obama's meeting at the G20 summit, it was neither discussed nor planned. We have assumed earlier that (Obama's) full-format visit would take place," Yury Ushakov told reporters.
He added that he possessed no information on whether the two presidents were to talk by phone any time soon. The G20 summit is slated for September 5-6 in Saint Petersburg of Russia.
The official said the Kremlin was not surprised by the White House decision to drop a one-on-one summit originally scheduled early next month in Moscow.
"We were ready, taking into account the discussions in mass media and the political background in the US in connection to Snowden's problem. We were ready both for the visit and for its delay," Ushakov said.
That was why Moscow reacted in a calm way, the official added.
"We know that sooner or later the contacts would perhaps be continued," he said, adding that Moscow would not retaliate Washington for the "disappointing decision."
Ushakov noted that Russia was still ready to cooperate with the United States over all bilateral and international issues.
"Whether Obama comes or not, we'll work through other available channels. The issues on the bilateral agenda are important in any circumstances," the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.
A White House spokesman on Wednesday announced the cancellation of the Moscow summit, citing the Snowden case as a lack of progress in bilateral relations.
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Couples tie knot across Straits |
Getting freight traffic back on the rails |
Magnetic attraction |
County linked with outside world |
Urban push |
Reaching for the summit |
Today's Top News
China's inflation rises 2.7% in July
Student exchange brings global business to life
US woos Chinese investors
Pharm giant says it takes bribery claims 'seriously'
Apple iPhone slips in rank
Study names top brands in China
Budget show cuts in provincial spending
US realty market 'connects dots' with China buyers
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |