This unusually respectful rhetoric from both sides hints on that they already agreed on the case. Russia keeps Snowden quiet, the US doesn't bug them with extradition. A win-win for both presidents. Putin saved a poor NSA contractor from the evil Empire. Obama shut down the leak and as a bonus got a "traitor" who fled to the "Soviets".
I feel like you're right, but there has to be more in it for Russia. Obama gets "good" PR and silences Snowden - the best possible outcome. I don't see Putin settling for just good publicity. If Putin played hardball here he would still gain massively with South America and still get the benefits you mentioned
It's almost as if Putin makes a facepalm and says "Dude, Edward, what the hell? Why would you do this?". And Putin, mind you, is very aware of the balances of power and the GAME. I think he sees very clearly how all this plays out: public at large won't give a shit over time, Snowden is forgotten, governments keep on doing what they've been doing for a long time: farming and milking their citizens.
I would say he's just been waiting for Russian public support for Snowden to cool down a bit, but then I forget that it seems from the outside that he pretty much doesn't need to consider Russian public opinion.
In the meantime, Snowden may be transferred to a refugee center.
These "refugee centres" are known as Temporary Accomodation Centres (TACs), about which Refugee Legal aid [1] states:
Temporary Accommodation Centres: TACs are located throughout the Russian Federation and at great distances from metropolitan areas. Transportation to and from a TAC and nearest metropolitan area is often costly and dangerous.
I can't imagine that would be a very safe secure environment from Snowden's perspective...
