Obama: Relations with Putin sometimes difficult

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. President Obama said Friday the U.S.-Russian relationship has become more difficult under Russian President Vladimir Putin.

With Putin running Russia "we saw more rhetoric that was more anti-American ... I've encouraged Mr. Putin to think forward rather than backward on those issues, with mixed success."

The president said he had no plans to boycott the Olympic Games in Russia.

Relations with Russia have cooled since Russia granted temporary asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. Obama said he called for surveillance reform before Snowden's leaks.

"I don't think Mr. Snowden is a patriot," the president said.