Chicago was to host the G8 and NATO summits in Chicago in May. The G8 summit was moved to Camp David not far from Washington. President Barack Obama explained that the country residence will make the atmosphere of talks less formal for world leaders.
Kommersant said on March 11 that one of the main reasons for moving the summit is to improve relations with the new Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader was invited for the G8 summit in Chicago in 2011 and then for the NATO summit. Moscow responded that the new president would only attend the NATO summit if Russia and the Alliance reach an agreement on missile defenses.
Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the Russian Center for Socio-Political Studies, said that the summits have nothing to do with Putin’s plans, because the Russian leader was not planning to visit Chicago. The NATO made similar statements, he reminds.
