Putin Bows Out Of Next Week’s G8 Summit In US
By VOA
Newly inaugurated Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping next week’s G8 summit at the Camp David presidential retreat north of Washington.
The White House says Mr. Putin told President Barack Obama in a telephone call Wednesday that he has a responsibility to remain in Moscow to finalize Cabinet appointments to his new government.
Former president turned Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will attend the G8 summit in Mr. Putin’s place. The White House says Mr. Putin agreed to meet with President Obama during the G20 summit next month in Mexico.
The White House says the two presidents also talked about their mutual commitment to strengthen the U.S. Russian partnership. It says they reviewed the achievements of the last three years, including a new START arms control deal that replaced an expired Cold War treaty.
Mr. Obama’s call came as Russia marked the 67th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe.
President Putin was sworn-in Monday for his third term as Russian president, swapping jobs with Mr. Medvedev.
