Putin pulls out of US summit, meeting with Obama

MOSCOW - The Associated Press

AFP Photo

The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping a planned visit to the United States this month for an economic summit and a much-anticipated meeting with President Barack Obama.

The Kremlin confirmed Putin's decision Thursday morning, telling Russian news agencies that Obama expressed "understanding" for Putin's cancellation.

The White House said Wednesday that Putin had told Obama by phone that he is unable to join the other leaders of the Group of Eight industrial nations meeting outside Washington on May 18-19 because he needs to finish work setting up his new Cabinet.

The Kremlin also said that Putin and Obama have agreed to meet at a summit in Mexico in mid-June.