Russia Disappointed by Obama Decision

{{Russia has voiced disappointment with US President Barack Obama’s decision to cancel his Moscow summit with President Vladimir Putin, but said it remains ready to co-operate on bilateral and international issues.}}

Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters on Wednesday that Obama’s decision reflected the US’ inability to develop relations with Moscow on an “equal basis”.

At the same time, he said the invitation to the US president to visit Moscow next month still stands and added that “Russian representatives are ready to continue working together with American partners on all key issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda”.

The cancellation of the summit underscores US dismay over Russia’s harbouring of National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden, as well as disagreements on other key issues, such as missile defence and Russia’s human rights record.

Snowden, an NSA systems analyst accused of leaking highly secretive details about the agency’s surveillance programs, was stuck in the transit zone of a Moscow airport for more than a month before Russia granted him asylum for one year last week.

{agencies}