Putin disappointed by Obama’s non-attendance at Asia summits

The Russian president’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed the Kremlin’s disappointment Friday over President Barack Obama’s decision to cancel his Asia trips. "There is a great need in our bilateral relations for a dialogue at the highest level," Peskov said.  They "have a wealth of issues on their agenda, including and foremost international issues headed by Syria,"  which to have been discussed by the two presidents on the sidelines of the Asian summits. The US president decided not to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bali on Monday and the subsequent East Asia summit in Brunei because of the federal budget crisis gripping the United States. Secretary of State John Kerry will stand in for him.