Putin will stand firm against pressure from the US over the Snowden case.

The US canceled a meeting between Obama and Putin in response to Russia's agreement to grant Snowden temporary asylum.

On August 7th, Lon Snowden, Edward Snowden's father, predicted that Putin would stand firm against pressure from Washington as the two countries clashed over Russia's decision to grant Edward Snowden temporary asylum.

Lon Snowden's comments came on the same day that the US decided to cancel a summit between the two presidents in response to Russia's approval of Edward Snowden's temporary asylum application.

Lon Snowden, father of Edward Snowden (Photo: Getty Images)

Speaking to Reuters, Lon Snowden said: “I respect President Putin’s strength and courage. He has stood firm against intense pressure from our government, and I believe he will continue to stand firm.”

Lon Snowden strongly criticized the Obama administration's handling of his son's case, arguing that Edward Snowden had no choice but to seek asylum abroad.

Lon Snowden also hoped that the diplomatic controversies would not distract the American public from the heated debates about the government's secret surveillance program.

Lon Snowden said: “This is not about Russia. The fight is not in Russia. The fight is right here. The fight is about programs that are destructive and violate our constitutional rights.”

Snowden's father said he hasn't spoken to his son since the whistleblower left the US for Hong Kong and that he won't contact him until he can meet Edward Snowden in person. He also affirmed that he would not do anything illegal or assist his son.

Lon Snowden said: "I certainly have to be careful because I understand that my son is a fugitive and I would not do anything that would be seen as aiding or abetting him."

Snowden's father is a veteran who served in the U.S. Coast Guard for about 30 years before retiring in January 2009. When asked if he believed his son would return to the U.S., he said: “Yes, I don’t know when, but I believe my son wants to come back…What he’s doing right now is what he has to do to survive.”

According to Lon Snowden, one of the issues that he and his father would discuss if they had the chance to meet in Russia is finding an American lawyer to represent Edward Snowden against the charges in the United States.

Lon Snowden said: “At this moment, my main concern is my son’s situation; I want him to have access to a lawyer in the United States, not in Moscow.”

According to VOV - DT