The upcoming annual Group of Eight economic summit, the first ever on Russian soil, is shaping up as a public relations coup for President Vladimir Putin, highlighting his country’s return as a major player on the world stage. If the three days of meetings turn out as Putin has planned, he will be able to point to the start of negotiations on a long-desired civilian nuclear agreement with the United States and G-8 endorsements of Putin’s major summit policy objectives in the areas of energy, infectious diseases and education. Full Story