Russia expects 2+2 meeting, summit with U.S. to go ahead

"The agenda of the meeting has been agreed. The sequence of events planned for Aug. 9 have been coordinated," Interfax news agency quoted the official as saying.

Ryabkov said Moscow had not received any messages from Washington regarding possible cancellation of the so-called 2+2 meeting.

"We look forward to having very intensive talks, there are many acute, disputable and difficult issues," Ryabkov said.

The diplomat said the ministers would discuss arms control, the situations in Syria and Afghanistan and bilateral relations.

However, he said Russian and U.S. ministers would not discuss former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who has received temporary asylum in Russia.

"There is nothing to discuss," Ryabkov said.

He said Washington had "distorted reality" by indicating a summit between Russian and U.S. presidents scheduled for September might be in jeopardy.

For Moscow, it was obvious such a summit would be useful, Ryabkov said, adding Russia had nothing to do with the Snowden situation.

"We don't understand how they (the U.S.) see that situation. It has emerged as a result of Snowden's own actions and the actions of the corresponding agencies in Washington," Ryabkov said.

He reiterated Russia had refrained from taking any steps concerning Snowden's fate which could potentially harm bilateral relations.

Local experts agree that Snowden's case is not worth the risk of worsening Russia-U.S. relations.

"Relations are superior to individuals. No single person is worth breaking relations between the countries," Vladimir Kozin, a member of the expert council at the Kremlin Administration, said.

Earlier Tuesday, the White House said it would announce in the coming days whether Barack Obama would cancel his meeting with Vladimir Putin.