Foreign journalists who had predicted fireworks when Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin met at the G20 Economic summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia were sorely disappointed when the two men failed to put on wrestling masks and repeatedly bash each other with metal folding chairs.  Things did get a little nasty between Russia and Britain, however.

Instead, the two adults greeted each other as leaders of nations who have fundamental disagreements on geopolitics:  Friendly, but not too friendly.  A smile, a handshake, and movin’ on.

US President Barack Obama is pushing for support for military strikes against Russia’s main ally in the Mideast, in retaliation for an alleged chemical weapon attack on civilians on 21 August.  As many as 1,429 civilians were killed.  Moscow is blaming the Syrian rebels, who are backed by the US, UK, France, and Gulf States.

Opening the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Syria would be discussed at the working dinner, so as to keep the scheduled meetings focused on economic issues.

British Prime Minister David Cameron presented new evidence that the Syrian government carried out the chemical attack, suggesting the death toll was so high because government troops miscalculated the mixture of chemicals. 

The Russians dismissed this, saying it should be presented before the UN Security Council.  And then it got nasty.

Putin senior spokesman Dimitri Peskov reportedly quipped to Russian reporters that Britain was “a small island no one listens to,” except for Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich who bought Chelsea FC.  Zing.

A Number Ten source responded, “As host of guests from the world's leading countries, I'm sure the Russians will want to clarify these reported remarks, particularly at a G20 where it's a very British agenda on trade and tax. It highlights how a small island with great people can achieve a big footprint in the world.”