Is The U.S. Now Snubbing Russia?

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) meets with Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow, July 7, 2009 (Reuters/Jim Young)

Rumors Abound As Obama Skips Summit -- Radio Free Europe

Eyebrows have been raised in both Washington and Moscow with the announcement that U.S. President Barack Obama will not attend this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in September.

The official reason for Obama's no-show is that the summit, which is to be held in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok on September 1-6, clashes with the Democratic Party's convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, at which he is to accept the party's presidential nomination.

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More News On U.S. - Russian Relations

Obama to Skip APEC Summit in Vladivostok - Spokesman -- RIA Novosti
Obama to skip September economic summit in Russia -- The Hill
White House: Obama won’t attend fall summit in Russia, denies link to Putin cancellation -- Washington Post/AP
Obama will skip APEC in Russia -- USA Today
Obama to skip APEC summit: White House -- AFP
Why Vladimir Putin Would Skip the Washington G8 Summit -- Ariel Cohen, The Atlantic
Duma: Don't Read Into Summit "Snubs" -- Moscow Times
Putin and Obama ‘snubs’ should not fuel scandals – Duma deputy -- RT

My Comment: The Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is in the middle of the Democrat convention .... and the "official" start of the U.S. Presidential election. President Obama has bigger fish to focus on than an APEC meeting.