Snubbed by Trump, Putin charms other players at G20

Russia is putting on a brave face after US President Donald Trump abruptly junked a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It's all about internal US politics and "anti-Russian hysteria," Russian officials shrug.

But Trump's snub was a clear kick to Putin just as he arrived at a Group of 20 summit where Western leaders banded together to denounce Russia's actions in Ukraine.

So Putin turned elsewhere for attention.

He subbed in Turkey's president for the time slot he had reserved for Trump, and sought to strengthen his alliance with China and other non-Western economies.

And he cozied up at Friday's round-table talks to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, somewhat of a fellow outcast at the G-20 over his suspected role in the killing of a dissident Saudi journalist.

Putin and Trump "said hi to each other," according to the Russian leader's spokesman but didn't shake hands or otherwise interchange, even during the "family photo" when leaders rub elbows as they get into place and usually exchange small talk.

Putin himself hasn't publicly addressed Trump's rejection, but hinted at the potential fallout if the leaders of the world's two biggest nuclear powers can't talk to each other: Putin said in Buenos Aires that the US intention to opt out of a Cold War-ear nuclear pact "creates risks of an uncontrollable arms race."
The standoff was the official reason that Trump cancelled his meeting with Putin, calling what's happening in Ukraine "very bad."
"If the domestic situation and the pressure from Russophobes like Ukraine and its sponsors prevents the US president from developing normal ties with the Russian president ... we will wait for another chance," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, adding "love can't be forced."
Prominent Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky called Trump's cancellation announced unexpectedly on Twitter just hours before the G-20 kicked off "a show."
He said Trump probably fears that if he meets with Putin, his domestic rivals "will call him a Russian agent."
"I hope it will end someday. Maybe it will happen in 2020 when the next US presidential election is held and he will no longer have to constantly look back at those who engage in anti-Russian rhetoric."