The US is evaluating utility of a summit meeting with Russia, in view of sharp differences that have emerged between the two countries over a host of issues, including the decision of Moscow to give asylum to whistleblower Edward Snowden, the White House has said.
"When it comes to the utility of a summit in Moscow, a bilateral summit, we are evaluating that against not just our disagreement over Mr Snowden, but some of the other issues where we have failed to see, thus far, eye to eye.
"Once we have fully assessed the utility of a summit, we'll make an announcement," White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, said.
It is fair to say that the US has a range of issues of interest with the Russians, he said.
"It has been true for four-and-a-half years now that we have dealt with the Russians in a very realistic way, in an effort to cooperate where we can, and to be very clear and pointed where we disagree," Carney said.
"We obviously disagree with the Russians very strongly about the decision they've made on Mr. Snowden. We disagree with the Russians on a number of other issues, including Syria. We have made those disagreements plain, both publicly and privately, in our discussions with them," he said.
The decision of Russia give political asylum to Snowden is not a positive development, he said.
"While we have a wide range of interests with the Russians, we are continuing to evaluate the utility of a summit. I think it's fair to say that you can expect that we'll have a decision to announce in coming days about that specific issue," Carney said.
However, the White House Press Secretary asserted that there would be no change in the schedule of the G-20 summit to be held in Russia.
"I don't see a change. There is not a change to announce in the President's schedule. The G20 is an international meeting, one the US was very instrumental in setting up as an annual meeting of 20 nations to discuss international economic policy and other policies. So the President's schedule remains as it was, which includes attending the summit," he said.
