Vladimir V. Putin
PER
Vladimir V. Putin Putin
There are speculations whether Russia under President Vladimir V. Putin should even be in the G-8, much less lead a club of capitalist democracies, a description some say only loosely applies to Russia. Mr. Putin countered that, saying Russia's presence would keep the G-8 from becoming an assembly of fat cats because his country still sees economic problems from the perspective of a developing nation. Mr. Putin has put emphasis on oil and gas exports as a rationale for Russia's membership. The chairmanship of Russia renews a debate on whether the country under President Vladimir V. Putin should even be in the Group of 8, much less lead a club of capitalist democracies, a description some say only loosely applies to Russia. Mr. Putin countered that last week by saying that Russia's presence would keep the G-8 from becoming an assembly of the affluent as his country still sees economic problems from the perspective of a developing nation.