The stance of Washington regarding former employee of the U.S. special services Edward Snowden remains unchanged, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said at a briefing on August 8.

The U.S. stance remains the same - Snowden should return to the United States, where he has problems and where he will be granted the right to use all defense opportunities, Carney said.

The U.S. and Russia have many topics for discussion [at the 2+2 format meeting in Washington] but the topic of Snowden will not be the main one at this meeting, Carney said.

Regardless of existing disagreements, the U.S. and Russia have spheres of cooperation, Carney said. The official said he did not want to underestimate the existing challenges but there was enough support so that the U.S.-Russian relations were balanced.