US President Donald Trump's decision to cancel talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit was regrettable, the Kremlin said on Friday, while the Russian foreign ministry claimed that "domestic" issues in the US may have prompted the move.
"We regret the US administration's decision to cancel the meeting," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies.
"This means that discussion of important issues on the international and bilateral agenda will be postponed indefinitely."
Mr Putin, he said, "is ready to have contacts with his American counterpart."
Meanwhile, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned the motives behind Mr Trump's decision.
"Is the provocation started by Kiev in this area (Azov Sea) a real reason for the cancellation? We heard that as an official version and we accepted that. Is it a real one? I believe we should look for answers in the U.S. domestic political situation," she was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Reuters -
President Donald Trump walks to his motorcade vehicle as he arrives on Air Force One. AP Photo -
Argentinian President Mauricio Macri's wife Juliana Awada and French President Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte laugh during a ceremony at the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace. Reuters -
Members of Argentina's National Gendarmerie march outside a secured area in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Reuters -
A resident talks to members of National Gendarmerie at a road block. EPA -
G20 summit protesters deflate a giant doll depicting US President Trump wearing a nappy in front of Argentina's congress. AP Photo -
British Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the Ezeiza International Airport. EPA -
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives for the G20 summit. EPA -
Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie arrive at Ministro Pistarini International Airport. Getty Images -
Managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde, centre, talks with other attendants to the dinner of Finance Ministers of G20. EPA -
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gestures alongside his wife Sophie, Argentina's President Mauricio Macri and his wife Juliana at the Olivos Presidential Residence. Reuters -
A Chinese man waits for the arrival of President Xi Jinping. AP Photo -
Photographers await the arrival of leaders at the Ezeiza International Airport. EPA
Mr Trump kicked off two days of diplomacy at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina on Friday after his abrupt decision to cancel a meeting with President Putin overshadowed the proceedings before they even started.
Mr Trump barreled into the two-day meeting by announcing via Twitter that he was canceling on Putin over Russia's seizure of Ukrainian vessels. His agenda Friday is expected to include meetings with world leaders, the signing of a revamped trade deal with Canada and Mexico, as well as a number of group activities for the gathering of rich and developing nations.
Coming into this G-20, Mr Trump faces a series of diplomatic challenges — most notably whether he can strike an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to ease trade tensions.
Mr Trump on Thursday scrapped the meeting over Moscow's seizure at the weekend of three Ukrainian ships and continued detention of a group of Ukrainian sailors.
The two had been set for bilateral talks on Saturday at the G20 in Buenos Aires.
Mr Trump on Thursday scrapped the meeting over Moscow's seizure at the weekend of three Ukrainian ships and continued detention of a group of Ukrainian sailors.
The two had been set for bilateral talks on Saturday at the G20 in Buenos Aires.
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