Putin tells Obama 'he will skip upcoming G8 summit'

Washington, May 10 (ANI): Russia's new President Vladimir Putin has told his American counterpart Barack Obama that he would not attend next week's G8 economic summit and would send Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in his place.

Putin, in a telephone conversation with Obama, cited 'his responsibilities to finalize Cabinet appointments in the new Russian government' in declining the invitation to join leaders of the world's richest nations at the two-day event starting on May 18.

According to ABC News, an official Kremlin account of the exchange made no mention of the G8 summit, but said Obama had 'congratulated Vladimir Putin on officially taking office as President.'

Meanwhile, Putin on Wednesday marked an annual celebration of the country's contributions to defeating Nazi Germany with a forceful defense of Russia's foreign policy in a speech to troops and veterans at Moscow's Red Square.

"Russia consistently follows a policy of strengthening global security and we have a great moral right to stand up determinedly for our positions because our country suffered the blow of Nazism," Putin said. (ANI)