Russia slammed on Wednesday the United States following its cancellation of a one-on-one summit originally due early next month in Moscow, claiming Washington " unprepared for equal bilateral relations."
Local experts perceived the Kremlin's swift response as "calm and balanced" while scoffing the White House decision, which was based on "lack of progress" in bilateral relations.
WHITE HOUSE DECISION EXCESSIVE, NERVOUS
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the Kremlin was " disappointed" at U.S. President Barack Obama's withdrawal from the scheduled Moscow summit with President Vladimir Putin on the eve of the Group of 20 (G20) summit slated for Sept. 5-6 in Saint Petersburg.
His remarks came right after White House spokesman Jay Carney announced the decision citing disagreements over missile defense, arms control, trade and commerce, security, human rights as well as the fate of Edward Snowden, the American intelligence leaker granted temporary asylum in Russia on Aug. 1.
Alexander Fomenko, an independent geopolitical analyst and a former member of State Duma, the lower house of the Parliament, called the U.S. decision "foolish and cowardly."
"The White House eventually understood that all means to persuade Russia to hand over Snowden have been exhausted. But it was clear from the start that Moscow would not extradite him, whatever happened," Fomenko told Xinhua.
The expert said Obama failed to defend his positions at home and was unable to prove to his political opponents in the Congress that the Cold War was over.
"They in the U.S. still cannot make up their mind on what their attitude to Russia should be after the end of the Cold War. The reason is that the U.S. own political culture has mutated since the Cold War ended," Fomenko said.
"In recent years, the U.S. found itself in an unaccustomed defensive position on the world stage. This is why Washington reacts on new challenges excessively, nervously and therefore foolishly," he added.
KREMLIN RESPONSE BALANCED, CALM
Meanwhile, the overwhelming U.S. reaction over Russia's decision to grant temporary asylum to the former National Security Agency whistleblower was in sharp contrast with the calm and balanced Kremlin's line of behavior, said the experts.
"Of course, Moscow was disappointed by Obama's decision. Still the dignified tone Kremlin has responded to White House's statement, once again demonstrated that Russia would not bind to the U.S. pressure in no case," Fomenko believes.
Despite Obama's decision to cancel his one-on-one meeting with Putin, Kremlin reconfirmed Wednesday its willingness to see the U. S. president on Russian soil.
"The president of the United States was and remains invited to make a visit to Russia. Russian representatives are ready to continue working with U.S. partners on all key items on the bilateral and multilateral agendas," Ushakov told reporters.
"The U.S. would lose face unless it responds on Russia's firm refusal to extradite Snowden is equally firm," Alexei Mukhin, Director General of the Political Information Center, told Xinhua.
Mukhin called Carney's words that Obama's decision was caused by the lack of progress on numerous issues as just a "diplomatic fog."
"Washington needs to justify its really excessive and nervous move somehow. The U.S. got itself cornered but lacks courage to admit it," the expert said.
