Relations between the US and Russia have hit a new low, with Barack Obama, the US president, openly stating that their partnership just is not working.
Snoopy
Washington is still fuming at Moscow's decision to grant temporary asylum to US whistleblower Edward Snowden, and now Obama has pulled out of talks with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
"I think the latest episode is just one more in a number of emerging differences that we've seen over the last several months - around Syria, around human rights issues - where it is probably appropriate for us to take a pause, reassess where it is that Russia's going, what our core interests are, and calibrate the relationship so that we're doing things that are good for the United States, and hopefully good for Russia as well, but recognising that there are just going to be some differences and we're not going to be able to completely disguise them," Obama declared.
Operation Wrecking Syria and Gay Rights
The Russians have called the decision disappointing. But while Snowden may have been the catalyst, Obama and Putin have never been close and differing positions on Syria, missile defence and human rights issues are also a factor in the deteriorating relations.
Russia has been criticised over its treatment of homosexuals after Putin signed a law in June banning what the Russian government calls "gay propaganda".
The law imposes fines on anyone taking part in gay pride demonstrations, or anyone considered to be making homosexuality appear attractive to minors.
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