White House: Obama May Snub Putin Over Snowden

Officials Say They Are Being 'Deliberately Vague' as Threat

by Jason Ditz, July 17, 2013

Amid reiterating their demands for whistleblower Edward Snowden’s capture, White House officials suggested that President Obama might cancel a September bilateral summit in Moscow to “punish” Russia for allowing Snowden to remain.

The White House said they are leaving President Obama’s travel plans “deliberately vague,” apparently to convey that threat to the Putin government, though they said Obama definitely would attend the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg that month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged the US to “rise above” the squabbling over Snowden, and he has insisted the question of Snowden’s asylum is up to the Migration officials.

Earlier this week, Putin characterized Snowden as an “unwelcome present” from the US, noting that the whistleblower wouldn’t be stuck in Russia if the US hadn’t revoked his travel papers, and would’ve gone to asylum in South America by now if the US didn’t get EU nations to prevent a direct flight.

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