NEWS: Putin In Britain For A Wide Range Of EU Related Discussions, page 1

Russian President Putin is in Britain for a wide range of discussions with current EU leader, Prime Minister Tony Blair. The talks will include energy, trade, Chechnya, Iran, terrorism and global warming. Russia is expected to again raise the issue of extraditing the Chechen emissary, Akhmed Zakayev, who Britain gave political asylum in 2003. Pundits expect Russia to exercise its new leverage over the EU who will soon depend upon Russia for 50% of their natural gas supply.

news.bbc.co.uk
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in London for a summit with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and European Commission officials.

Energy, trade and co-operation against terrorism are expected to be high on the agenda for the meeting.

Mr Blair also raised global warming at recent EU summits with China and India and plans to discuss it with Mr Putin, the UK foreign office said.

Britain currently holds the presidency of the European Union.

Russia and the EU have disagreed on issues such as Chechnya and Iran.

The EU has called for Russia to respect human rights in Chechnya.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

The two regional powers, EU and Russia, will inevitably have many of these such meetings in increasing frequency in such times. Energy prices and global warming as evident with this season's hurricanes will dominate the talks. As will the current confrontation between the EU/Americans and Russia over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Here's hoping the talks are productive and diplomacy can resolve any outstanding issues.