On July 16, 2013, Whistleblower Edward Snowden formally applied for asylum in Russia. The United States has been hunting Snowden. If Russia accepts Snowden's application, it will surely worsen relations between Russia and the United States. But Mr. Snowden is widely viewed in Russia and around the world as a champion of human rights around the globe, and it would be morally and honorably damaging for Russia to reject him.
If the above statement is true, then Russia does not want the Snowden affair to damage relations with the United States.