Obama cancels talks with Putin over Snowden asylum

President Obama has canceled talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that had been set for next month in Moscow, an administration official said Wednesday. The decision followed Russia's decision to grant asylum to Edward Snowden, an former employee of the National Security Agency wanted by the United States for leaking national secrets. In a statement, the White House said it had called off talks with Putin because "we have reached the conclusion that there is not enough recent progress in our bilateral agenda." The talks would have touched on missile defense and arms control, trade, global security and human rights, the statement said. The White House admitted a factor in canceling the talks was Russia's "disappointing" decision to grant asylum to Snowden. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with their Russian counterparts Friday on how to progress on the items, the statement added. Obama said Tuesday he still plans to attend a September Group of 20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.