By Stone Martindale Jun 9, 2007, 2:34 GMT
The G-8 summit not only gave Bush an upset stomach, Geldof and Bono a new reason to moan or rioters a chance to burn things, it also provided a snapshot of Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin's strained relationship.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ... EPA/Bernd Thissen
Tony Blair told Vladimir Putin yesterday that "the world was becoming more and more afraid of Russia’s behaviour at home and abroad."
During the last of the G8 summit meetings in Germany, Blair predicted a "lengthy period of deep freeze in relations between Russia and the West," reported the Times Online.
Blair and Putin allegedly had a "tense, hour-long encounter in the Caroline Room at the Kempinski Grand Hotel. Mr Blair emerged alone, a fixed smile on his face."
"Fixed smile" is journalist code for wanting to wallop someone, around these parts.
Blair, according to the Times Online, went into the meeting "determined to speak his mind, knowing that it was the last time he would have to deal with Mr Putin but anxious to get a strong message across."
According to the UK news source, Blair went an brought up the sticky wicket of Alexander Litvinenko's murder, Putin’s threats to train missiles on Europe and the treatment of international companies in Russia, particularly BP. The chai and the room got very cold.
Putin blamed America for not "treating" Russia right, whatever that means.
Now, the Times Online states that UK-Russian relations "will be one of Gordon Brown’s main foreign policy headaches."
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