Obama snubs Putin, cancels summit over Snowden

obama_putin

NEWSMAX – President Barack Obama canceled a planned summit next month with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, who he says shouldn’t have given asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.

“Even though we don’t have an extradition treaty with them, traditionally we have tried to respect if there’s a law breaker or an alleged lawbreaker in their country, we evaluate it and we try to work with them,” Obama said last night on NBC’s “Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” In Snowden’s case, “They didn’t do that with us,” he said.

Obama has been pressured by U.S. lawmakers to take retaliatory actions against Russia, recalling the days of Cold War tensions between two military foes.

Obama’s decision comes after Russia granted temporary asylum to Snowden, rebuffing U.S. requests that Snowden be return to the U.S. for trial.

The president still plans to attend the Group of 20 economic summit in St. Petersburg Sept. 5-6 with developed and emerging nations.


Comment Policy: Please read our comment policy before making a comment. In short, please be respectful of others and do not engage in personal attacks. Otherwise we will revoke your comment privileges.